'Arbitrary and Illegal': Calcutta High Court Quashes No Confidence Motion Against Nandigram Panchayat President

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday quashed a 'no confidence' motion initiated against Pabitra Kar, President of Boyal-I, Gram Panchayat in the District of Purba Medinipur by the majority of the Panchayat members. Pursuant to the motion of 'no confidence, the Prescribed Authority and the Block Development Officer in the exercise of powers conferred under Rule 5B of the West Bengal Panchayat Rules, 1975 had issued a notice dated May 21, 2021, for conveying a meeting on June 7, 2021, at the Panchayat office. Justice Arindam Mukherjee while setting aside the impugned notice observed that the Prescribed Authority had failed to comply with its statutory obligations under Section 12 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973 and accordingly observed, "The Prescribed Authority in the instant case has failed to do an act as provided under Section 12 and 12 of the said Act. "In the instant case, it is apparent that the Prescribed Authority has received a copy of the motion in terms of the provisions of Section 12 of the said Act, but, there is no proof produced before this Court to show that one copy of the motion had been delivered to the petitioner either by hand or by Registered Post to the petitioner at the office of the said Gram Panchayat", the Court opined.