Kolkata, Sept. 13 -- The Calcutta High Court has ordered state authorities to rebuild a two-storeyed commercial building in East Midnapore after finding that officials had exceeded the scope of an eviction drive and demolished a structure on the petitioners' own land.
Justice Partha Sarathi Sen held that the authorities had unlawfully demolished the building on LR Plot No. 650 at Naikuri Jagannathchak, Tamluk, while removing encroachments from adjoining government plots.
The petitioners, Kabita Manna and another, said they owned the plot and had constructed the building after obtaining a sanctioned plan from Bishnubar-1 Gram Panchayat. The second petitioner was running a business there.
The court examined Revenue Inspector reports and sketch maps from September 2024 and March 2025, which showed encroachments on government plots 1 and 12 and identified Plot No. 650 as the petitioners' land. An attendance sheet from the eviction drive also recorded demolition in front of rayati land covering Plot No. 650. On examining the documents, the court concluded that the authorities had gone beyond the area where encroachments were to be removed. It rejected the state's argument that disputed facts could not be examined in writ jurisdiction, saying such facts could be considered when supported by sufficient evidence.
The authorities were directed to rebuild the structure according to the sanctioned plan within two years and hand over possession thereafter. They must provide free alternative accommodation, preferably in the same locality, until then.
The court also ordered Rs 10 lakh compensation in two instalments, by October 2026 and February 2027.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.