In a significant ruling on Friday, the Calcutta High Court issued an interim stay on the demolition of alleged illegal constructions in the popular seaside resort town of Mandarmoni, located in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district. Justice Amrita Sinha ordered the suspension of a demolition notice issued by the West Bengal State Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBCZMA) and the district magistrate, which had set a deadline of November 20 for the clearing of structures in compliance with a May 2022 order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Mandarmoni Hoteliers’ Association, representing the petitioners, argued that the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms applicable to West Bengal have not yet been officially published, thereby making the identification and regulation of such zones unclear. The petitioners also contested the demolition order on legal grounds, claiming it exceeded lawful authority.
In her decision, Justice Sinha pointed out that the matter requires detailed hearing and that the parties involved need to present further arguments supporting their cases. She highlighted the “immediate threat of demolition” faced by property owners and granted the interim relief pending a more thorough examination of the issue.
The court has directed the Union of India and other respondents to submit detailed reports addressing the claims made in the petition by December 4. The petitioners will then have the opportunity to respond to these reports by December 10, with the next hearing scheduled for December 13.
