*Humanity Salt Lake & Anr Vs State of West Bengal & Ors*
*Date-27th September, 2021*
*Forum_Calcutta High Court*

*Sub-Allotment of 2 acre plot of land in Salt Lake by WBHIDCO inspite of earlier allotment having been set aside by Supreme Court in disregard of rules and regulations-Calcutta High Court comes down heavily against the manner of working of the West Bengal Government besides the conduct of Mr Saurav Ganguly.*

The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Bench in this case considering the allotment of 2 acre of land to *Mr Saurav Ganguly* which was made against the Land Allotment policy in the year 2012 as per which land could be allotted only to a not for profit entity and the present allotment having been made for a commercial venture, the same was against public policy. The court noted that earlier also the Supreme Court in the case of *Humanity and Another vs. State of West Bengal and Others, (2011) 6 SCC 125(SC) **had set aside allotment of land in a similar manner by observing that the allotment was made to a society where five members of Mr Saurav Ganguly’s family were the trustees besides a chartered accountant. In the present round of land allotment, the land was again allotted in total disregard of the law. Moreover, even though the land was not put to use for considerable period of time, no action was taken which was again not in accordance with the policy.
Finally the court was informed by the learned counsel appearing for Mr Saurav Ganguly that allotment of plot in question had been surrendered but still the court having been called upon to deal with the issues on merits as well and the conduct of the State and WBHIDCO. It is a case in which the rules, regulations and the law laid down by Hon’ble the Supreme Court and this Court has been given complete go-bye at the whims and fancies of the persons in charge.

The court while counting the contribution of Mr Saurav Gauguly to the international cricket , *imposed costs of Rs 50000 on State of WB, WBHIDCO and Rs 10000 on Mr Saurav Ganguly* as the plot had already been surrendered.

This judgement will be one of the landmark judgement in the matter of illegal land allotments

Ramesh Patodia
29-09-2021