NARESWAR DANGIARI Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. MK Adhikari, learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) No. 4557/2022 and the respondent No. 7 in WP(C) No. 6322/2022. Heard Mr. SD Purkayastha, learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) No. 6322/2022. Mr. NK Debnath, learned counsel appears for the P&RD Department, while Mr. M Chetia, learned counsel appears for the Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur and Chief Secretary, Government of Assam. Also heard Mr. Mousam Das/respondent No. 6, Block Development Officer, Dhekiajuli, Sonitpur, who has appeared in person.

(2.) Both the writ petitions are being disposed of by this common judgment and order, in view of the fact that issues raised by the petitioners are intertwined and pertains to Gorubandha Weekly Market. For easy disposal of the matters, the placement of the parties in the Cause-Title in WP(C) No. 6322/2022 is taken into consideration.

(3.) The brief facts of the case is that the respondent No. 7 was running the Gorubandha Weekly Market from the financial year 2019-2022 till 30/6/2022, on the basis of tenders published by the State respondents. As the settlement of the markets (hats) was being done on a yearly basis, in terms of Sec. 105 of the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994, the term of the respondent No. 7 as the settlement holder of the said market was to end on 30/6/2022. Prior to 30/5/2022, the State respondents issued a Notice Inviting Tender ("NIT" in short) dtd. 13/5/2022, calling for bids from tenderers for settling the Gorubandha Weekly Market for the year 2022-2023, for the period from 1/7/2022 to 30/6/2023.