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ORDER SHEET
WPO 225 OF 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
CO0NSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION
ORIGINAL SIDE
NILANJANA GHOSAL
VERSUS
STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.
BEFORE:
The Hon’ble JUSTICE SHIVAKANT PRASAD
Date : 30TH June, 2021.
APPEARANCE:
Saurabh Guhathakurata, Adv.
Ms. Rituparna Ghosh, Adv.
Mr. Sourav Sardar, Adv.
…for the petitioner
Mr. Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay, Adv.
Mr. Suman Sankar Chatterjee, Adv.
Mr. Pronoy Basak, Adv.
…for the adding party(father of the child/wife of the petitioner)
Mr. Arindam Sen, Adv.
…for the State Legal Aid Service Authority.
Mr. Amitesh Banerjee, Adv.
Ms. Ipsita Banerjee, Adv.
…for the State of West Bengal.
The Court : In compliance of this Court’s order dated 22nd June,
2021 the State Legal Services Authority has submitted report.
The report reflects that by following the principles laid down in Clause 9
of NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and Their Protection)
Scheme, 2015. The authority had taken necessary action in the interest and
welfare of the son of the writ petitioner.
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On 14.5.2021 the State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal received
an e-mail from Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee attaching a hand written letter from
Sri Sagnic Bhattacharjee himself wherein the child had made several serious
allegations against his mother and her friend Vivek Gupta.
On 17.5.2021 the said authority received an e-mail from CWC, Kolkata
wherein it was stated that based on the appeal of Sri Sagnic Bhattacharjee,
CWC, Kolkata has initiated the process and will do the needful.
On 4.6.2021 the State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal an e-mail
from Sri Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee was received stating that the CWC Official
had went to his ex-wife’s house to collect the information for making a report
but could not enquire into the matter properly owing to the non-co-operation
of his ex-wife and being worried about the safety and security about his son
Sagnic, he requested the State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal to look
into the matter. On receipt of this e-mail the Registrar cum Deputy Secretary,
State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal forwarded the mail to CWC,
Kolkata for taking appropriate steps in accordance with law and a report was
called for from CWC, Kolkata on or before 07.06.2021. But no report was
received from CWC, Kolkata till date.
However, the State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal has received
certain e-mails from Sri Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee enclosing copy of divorce
decree and other documents and appealed for school admission of his son
Sagnic Bhattacharjee on the ground that while he was in the custody of his
mother, his education was discontinued after completing 5th standard in the
year 2018 and presently Sagnic Bhattacharjee is school dropout. So, the State
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Legal Services Authority, West Bengal in the obligation to follow the principles
laid down in Clause 9 of NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and
their Protection) Scheme, 2015 took steps for his safe home. Report be kept on
record.
It would appear that adhering to the guidelines under the Clause 9 of
the Scheme 2015 and for the best interest and welfare of the child, to ensure
the dignity of the child and for the safety of the child, the Authority has
suitably taken steps to keep Sagnic Bhattacharjee in a safe home so that he is
not subjected to any home abuse and neglect.
A photo copy of the hand written complaint of Sagnic Bhattacharjee has
been supplied to the learned counsel for the petitioner and shown to the writ
petitioner being the mother of the said Sagnic Bhattacharjee present in Court
to verify whether the writing appearing in the complaint is that of her son. The
petitioner has raised a doubt in respect of hand written complaint with
contention that it is all done at the instance of her ex-husband to get the
custody of the child. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
custody of the child in shelter home and action taken by the Authority
concerned is not in accordance with the provision of Section 39 of Guardians
and Wards Act, 1890 which provides for removal of guardian. The petitioner
has disputed allegation of harassment to her son as leveled against her. The
Court which can deal with removal of a guardian declared by the Court
appointed in terms of the order of mutual divorce. It is submitted that the
petitioner was given the custody of the child in terms of the mutual decree of
divorce and for the reason of ill-treatment or neglect to take proper care of the
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child, if allegation so made, the ex-husband of the petitioner could apply
before the District Court for custody of the her son because the father of the
son ought to have made an application for such removal of the guardian
mother under Section 9 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 as the father
and mother both being natural guardians are alive ergo, there is no
justification for keeping the child in a safe home.
Learned counsel for the petitioner has relied on a unreported decision in
Dr. Sharmistha Kar Purokayastha Vs. State of West Bengal Ors. dated
02.11.2010 based in WP No. 21904(W) of 2020 which was also a case
pertaining the substantial allegation that petitioner mother of the child was ill-
treating the child and as a result the child was severely shocked and pained.
It would appear that the allegation of torture meted out to the child is
required to be ascertained as the petitioner has denied the written complaint
having been written in the hand writing and signature of her son.
Mr. Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay learned Advocate for the ex-husband
of the petitioner submits to implead the father of the child as respondent in
the writ application such prayer is allowed for just and fair decision since, the
welfare of the child is paramount consideration for the custody of the child.
Mr. Banerjee, Senior learned counsel for the State respondent is
requested to do the needful in the matter of safe production of the son of the
petitioner before this Court to ascertain the real allegation.
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Let the matter appearing on 2nd July, 2021.
(SHIVKANT PRASAD, J.)
Sbghosh