BISWANATH SOMADDER,J. - (1.) In the instant writ petition taken out by two villagers who reside under Madarat Gram Panchayat situated in the district of 24-Parganas (South), certain allegations have been made against the private respondent nos. 12 and 13, who are the previous Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan of the said Gram Panchayat. By an order dated 30th September, 2011, this Court had directed the District Magistrate of the district of 24-Parganas (South) to cause an enquiry into the allegations made by the petitioners. Subsequently, a report in the form of an affidavit has been filed on behalf of the District Magistrate, 24-Parganas (South). Perusing the said report, it appears that a detailed enquiry has been made and it is noticed that disbursement of NOAPS to 18 beneficiaries were made without their signatures or Left Hand Thumb Impressions (LTI) and there were at least 71 unidentified beneficiaries.
(2.) It is not understandable as to why in such a factual backdrop, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Baruipur, South 24-Parganas, has described the above glaring incidents merely as commissions of irregularities not amounting to defalcation. The Sub-Divisional Officer ought not to have made such a judgment call in such a serious matter and ordinarily left the matter to the discretion of the District Magistrate, 24-Parganas (South).
(3.) In such circumstances as stated above, this Court is of the view that the writ petition can be disposed of with a direction upon the District Magistrate, 24-Parganas (South), to take an appropriate decision in the matter and if necessary initiate criminal complaint against those who were responsible, either directly or indirectly, for not letting public money reach the hands of the intended beneficiaries since nothing could be more distressing and appalling an example than what transpires from the records of the instant case.;