A Calcutta High Court division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee has imposed a token cost of Rs 10,000 on BCCI president Sourav Ganguly along with a cost of Rs 50,000 each on the government and state-owned West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO).
The token cost has been imposed by the bench for irregular allotment of land to Ganguly for setting up a school in New Town area.
"Though the plot of land has been returned by the allottees, for the conduct of the state in generating litigation by arbitrary exercise of power that runs totally contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court, we impose a cost of Rs 50,000 each on the state and WBHIDCO," the court said.
"Even they should have acted in accordance with law, especially considering the earlier judgment whereby arbitrary allotment of plot in their favour was set aside by the Supreme Court,” the court said on the token cost imposed on Sourav Ganguly and the Ganguly Education.
While the allotment was made on September 27, 2013 to Ganguly and the society, the plot was surrendered to WBHIDCO in August 2020. A PIL was filed back in 2016 that challenged the irregular allotment of two acres of land and the court was hearing the same.
"The country always stands by the sportspersons, especially those who represent the country at international events. It is also a fact that Sourav Ganguly has brought laurels to the country in cricket," the court said.
"But when it comes to law, our constitutional scheme is that all are equal and no one can claim to be exclusive, above the law and seek benefits from the state, especially when a question arises about allotment of plots for commercial ventures," the court further said.