Uttam Kumar Santra v. State of West Bengal and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Encroachment on PWD/public land; unauthorised construction blocking ingress-egress; plots 11 and 15, Mouza Suklalpur, JL 165, PS Mahishadal, Purba Medinipur; representation dated 19-01-2026; Sub-Divisional Officer, Haldia directed to enquire and demarcate through competent officials on prior notice; statutory proceedings if encroachment found; eight-week deadline from server copy; communication of negative finding; writ petition disposed (not dismissed); WPA 11224 of 2026; Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.; no precedent or statute section cited.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of with directions to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Haldia (respondent no.4) to: (i) consider the petitioner's representation dated 19th January, 2026; (ii) cause enquiry and demarcation of the disputed plot through competent officials upon prior notice to the petitioner, private respondents and any other affected parties; (iii) if encroachment upon public land is found, initiate and complete proceedings under the relevant statute as expeditiously as possible, positively within eight weeks of receipt of a server copy of the order together with a copy of the representation; and (iv) if no encroachment is found, communicate that decision to the petitioner within the same period.