The Calcutta High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of a scheme called ‘Bhutbhuti’, whereby the conventional ferries were to be motorized and made safer for the passengers to cross the river.
The PIL is filed by a foundation registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
The petitioner stated that immediate implementation of the scheme is required as the conventional ferries are unsafe on many occasions. There is overloading and there are no life jackets resulting in many fatal accidents.
In this regard, the petitioner has submitted a detailed representation on 24th February, 2023 and the senior advocate appearing for the respondents/State would submit that the 4th respondent i.e., the Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal may be directed to consider the said representation.
In the light of the above, without going into the merits of the contentions raised by the petitioner, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed, the 4th respondent to consider the representation dated 24th February, 2023 and if any information is required from the petitioner, the same can be called for and thereafter, an informed decision be taken by the 4th respondent in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible but preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the served copy of this order.