Subrata Talukdar, J. - (1.) In this writ petition the petitioner challenges the Order dated 21st December, 2016 passed by the Block Development Officer, Jhalda II Development Block cum Executive Officer, Jhalda-II Panchayat Samiti rejecting the prayer of the petitioner to disburse the honorarium due to him for services rendered as a Homoeopathic Compounder (for short H. Compounder) at Majhidih Gram Panchayat (GP) since 2008.
(2.) Ms. Chatterjee, Learned Advocate of the petitioner, relies upon a Notification dated 23rd of May, 1988 of the Department of Health and Family Welfare (for short DHFW), Government of West Bengal. It is submitted that the staff of an approved Homoeopathic dispensary, i.e. a Homoeopathic Doctor (H. Doctor) and a H. Compounder will be engaged by the Pradhan of the GP in issue. Learned Advocate for the petitioner submits that the intention behind the Notification of 23rd of March, 1988 (supra) is to provide for one homoeopathic dispensary with a doctor and compounder for the GP.
(3.) Therefore, in view of the engagement of the petitioner by the then Pradhan of the GP in issue through a resolution of the GP dated the 5th of July, 2007 as communicated to the petitioner on the 2nd of June 2008, the petitioner has been since discharging his duties as a compounder uninterruptedly. However, Ms. Chatterjee submits, that inspite of release of funds for the purpose of paying honorarium at the GP level by the Purulia Zilla Parishad (for short PZP) as would be evident from the Memos dated 24th of March, 2010, 8th September, 2011 and 1st November, 2012, the petitioner, although eligible to receive the remuneration, has been illegally denied the same.;