Manarul Malitya v. State of West Bengal and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Encroachment over PWD land; West Bengal Highways Act 1964 sections 10, 10(1), 10(2), 10(3); Assistant Engineer (respondent no. 6); BL & LRO; demarcation report by respondent no. 7; 591 sq ft, 281 sq ft and 280 sq ft encroachments; L.R. Plot No. 2346; Mouza-Chandpur; notice dated 06.03.2026; reasoned order dated 19.02.2026; reference to Sub-Divisional Officer (respondent no. 3); temple and pond claimed by private respondents nos. 9-13; implementation of coordinate Bench order dated 05.12.2025 in WPA 26746 of 2025; writ petition disposed of with directions; merits kept open; no monetary quantum.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of with directions: respondent no. 6 authority to issue a notice under section 10(1) of the West Bengal Highways Act, 1964 against the encroachers in respect of 280 square feet of PWD land in front of L.R. Plot No. 2346, Mouza-Chandpur, within 15 working days; on the encroachers' failure to comply (including vis-a-vis the notice dated 06.03.2026 for 591 square feet), steps under section 10(2) referring the matter to the Sub-Divisional Officer (respondent no. 3); respondent no. 3 to initiate and conclude a section 10(3) proceeding within 30 working days after serving copies of the demarcation report and due notice to all stakeholders; time limits peremptory and mandatory; merits of the order dated 19.02.2026 left open.