JANGIPARA PANCHAYAT SAMITY Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) 1. It appears to this Court that in spite of giving several directions for appearance in the earlier occasion, nobody appeared on behalf of the respondents to oppose this writ petition when it has been placed under the heading "Old Matters".

(2.) It appears to this Court that the Panchayat Samity itself had taken out the writ petition to stop granting licence for cattle hat or running the same under the West Begnal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1972. According to Mr. Mallick, cattle hat cannot be treated to be agricultural produce at any stretch of imagination. It can be covered by such Act. Upon going through preamble I find that this Act has been provided for regulation of marketing of agricultural produce in West Bengal and for matters connected therewith. Under section 13 of such Act, there is a provision for grant of licence for carrying out the business as a trader, commission agent, broker, weighman, measurer, warehouseman or surveyor, or sell or purchase agricultural produce, or engage in processing and preservation of agricultural produce, or set up, establish or continue a stall, shed or other structure for storage, sale or purchase of any agricultural produce, except, under and in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions of the licence issued in this behalf by the market committee.

(3.) From the plain reading of such part of the section it appears that the same is applicable to the individuals for the aforesaid purpose to obtain licence from the market committee. If any licence for grant of cattle hat is being made under such section of the Act is totally de hors the law. Such law cannot go beyond the agricultural produce and the matter connected therewith. Such section under the Act is not in respect of establishing any hat or market. But it is in respect of giving licence to an individual by the market committee. Therefore, even assuming for the moment that if any of the such products are coming under the zone of consideration, such Act with its enlarged face value, cannot be applicable in any manner whatsoever in case of establishment of hat or market. Establishment of hat or market is clearly provided under section 117 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973. Thereunder the power is given to the Panchayat Samity to grant licence for hat or market. Such section is so clear and explicit that this Court does not require any further clarification but to quote it hereunder: