KALLOL MUKHERJEE Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As far as this writ petition no. 515 (W) of 2020 is concerned, I had the opportunity to extensively hear the matter on February 6, February 27 and March 12 of this year. In spite of the matter being posted for March 19, 2020, a period of lull ensued owing to the disruption caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown that was imposed nationwide on March 24, 2020. In the meanwhile, the State respondents proceeded to take precipitous action against the petitioner, in this case, which compelled the petitioner to file CAN 3809 of 2020 seeking urgent hearing for immediate relief. Having concluded the hearing in the matter on July 9, 2020, I now proceed to dispose of this writ petition together with CAN 3809 of 2020 by this common judgment and order.

(2.) The facts of this case, in so far as they are material to this writ petition, is circumscribed within a narrow compass and is encapsulated as follows:

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the ground stated in the impugned order dated September 30, 2019 is patently erroneous for there had been no delay of 49 days in making an application for grant of such license, on the grounds of compassionate appointment as the records reflect that the petitioner had submitted the original application to the Respondent No. 3, well within the mandated period of thirty (30) days on August 26, 2014, a day immediately after the petitioner's father passed away.