DEBEN ADHICARY Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Much of the sting has been taken away from this Contempt proceeding by the passage of time. The petitioner and his wife are the sole share-holders and Directors of Metro Engineering Works Private Limited which has its office and factory at No. 38 Kansaripara Road within the Bhowanipore Police Station. It is alleged that in June 1967, the workers of the aforesaid Company 'gheraoed' the supervising staff on several occasions and also staged a 'gherao' at the residence of the petitioner, and in spite of repeated requests, the Police authorities failed to take any action in regard thereto. On the 19th July, 1967, in an application under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner obtained from this Court a Rule, viz., C. R. 1285 (W)/67 calling upon the State of West Bengal some officials of the State, the Commissioner of Police and the Officer-in-charge Bhowanipore Police Station being respondents Nos. 1 to 6 and 17 workers being respondents Nos. 7 to 24 and the Metro Engineering Works Private Limited Workers Union, represented by Shri Asoke Kumar Bose being respondent No. 25, to show cause as to why a Writ in the nature of Mandamus should not be issued directing the respondents Nos. 1 to 6 to discharge their statutory obligations in protecting the rights of the petitioner and why a Writ in the nature of Certiorari should not be issued to quash the relevant records connected with illegal obstruction, trespass and demonstrations carried on by the members of the aforesaid Union.

(2.) There was also an interim order in the following terms:--

(3.) There was a further Interim order directing the respondents Nos. 5 and 6, the Commissioner of Police and the Officer-in-charge Bhowanipore Police Station to provide for such assistance as the petitioner might need for removal of petitioner's manufactured goods from his factory at 38 A, Kan-saripara Road, Ehowanipore, Police Station. Liberty was given to the petitioner to serve the respondents Nos. 7 to 24 at the factory site at 38A Kan-saripara Road, Calcutta-25.