Kolkata: The Calcutta HC on Wednesday doubled the fine on petitioners for defaulting on the penalty for constructing a building without sanction. The counsel for the petitioners had instead sought more time from the court to pay the initial fine of Rs 1 lakh on the ground that the petitioners had preferred an appeal in the division bench against the court order.
“I am going to enhance the cost,” Justice Amrita Sinha said.The court directed the petitioners to pay the enhanced fine by March 22, 2024, failing which, it would be increased further.
Justice Sinha recorded the court had, on March 12, 2024, dismissed the writ petition “seeking regularization of an absolutely unauthorized construction raised without sanction”.
“It appears that the petitioners were encouraged enough to file the writ petition. The court had passed the order after a thorough hearing. The petitioners deliberately chose not to pay the costs and sought for some more time for the payment on the ground that they had moved the division bench,” Justice Sinha noted.
Justice Sinha held that as on date, there was no order staying the order of the court.
“When it comes to the knowledge of the court that injustice is being perpetrated, the court can’t keep its eyes shut. The persons involved in the unauthorized construction should be given a good lesson so that such unauthorized constructions can be curbed,” Justice Sinha observed.
The court asked petitioners to submit the payment receipt on March 27.