DHARANIDHAR MEDHI Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. A Matin, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. S Dutta, learned counsel for the respondents No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 being the authorities in the P and RD Department and Ms. M Barman, learned Junior Government Advocate for the respondents No. 3, 6 and 7 respectively being the Deputy Commissioner, Barpeta, Superintendent of Police, Barpeta and the OfficerinCharge of Baghbar Police Station.

(2.) Pursuant to a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) dtd. 27/6/2022 of the Mandia Anchalik Panchayat, the Mandia Hat (with cattle market) was settled with the petitioner Dharanidhar Medhi for the year 2022-23 w.e.f. 1/7/2022 to 30/6/2023 as per the order of settlement dtd. 1/7/2022 of the Barpeta Zila Parishad. Accordingly, the petitioner entered into an agreement and is operating the cattle market.

(3.) After operating the market upon taking possession, the Officer-in-Charge of Baghbor police station had interfered with the operation of the market by requiring the petitioner to close the cattle market. In response thereof, the petitioner also filed a representation dtd. 16/9/2022 before the Barpeta Zila Parishad which is annexed as Annexure-7 to the writ petition. In the said representation of 16/9/2022 it is stated that on 12/9/2022, the Officerin Charge of Baghbor police station verbally directed the petitioner to stop operating the market.