Bijoy Krishna Dam v. the Sribhumi Municipal Board (Erstwhile Karimganj Municipal Board) and 3 Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Article 226 writ petition (WP(C)/550/2025, Gauhati High Court, decided 14.02.2025, Kalyan Rai Surana J.) challenging the invitation of a political-party office-bearer (Subrata Bhattacharjee, District President BJP, respondent No. 3) by the Chairman, Sribhumi Municipal Board (erstwhile Karimganj Municipal Board) to attend a hearing concerning a dispute between Bijoy Krishna Dam and Naba Kishor Deb (respondent No. 4); exclusion of third parties and persons with political background from municipal decision-making/hearing; permissible presence of Ward Member and officials noticed on 31.12.2024 and 03.01.2025; prior orders in WP(C) No. 7620/2023 (28.11.2024), WP(C) No. 5560/2023 (16.12.2024) and Rev.Pet No. 99/2023; notice to respondents 3 and 4 dispensed; disposal at motion stage; 10-working-day production of certified copy and 7 days' notice directions.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of at the motion stage without issuance of notice upon the respondents. The Chairman, Sribhumi Municipal Board is directed to exclude the presence of any third party, including any person with a political background, when deciding the matter between the petitioner and respondent No. 4, while permitting the Ward Member and officials noticed on 31.12.2024 and 03.01.2025. Petitioners to produce a certified copy of the order before the Sribhumi Municipal Board within 10 (ten) working days, whereupon the authority shall issue 7 (seven) days' notice to the parties and hear the matter in accordance with law. Liberty reserved to respondent No. 4 to seek modification.