The Calcutta High Court has held that the police are not the appropriate authority to determine whether dairy farms are being operated legally or whether their functioning is causing health hazards.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the order on September 14, 2026, while hearing a writ petition filed by Angurbala Mondal against the State of West Bengal and others.
Background
The petitioner approached the High Court seeking directions to the police to take action against respondent nos. 7 and 8. She alleged that dairy farms or units were being operated without authorization adjacent to her residence and were causing health hazards.
The petitioner also sought an order directing the authorities to stop the operation of the said dairy farms or units. The State and private respondents opposed the plea, including on the ground that the petitioner herself was also running a dairy farm.
The State submitted that if the petitioner believed the dairy farms were unauthorized and creating a health hazard, she should approach the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.
The High Court agreed that the police could not adjudicate the issues raised in the petition.
"The police authority is not the appropriate authority to decide whether dairy farms/units are being run by respondent nos.7 & 8 in accordance with law or not and whether running of such dairy farms cause health hazard."
The Court held that the petitioner should approach the concerned authority of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board for adjudication of the dispute.
The High Court disposed of the writ petition while granting the petitioner liberty to approach the appropriate forum for pursuing her remedy.
Case Details:
Case Title: Angurbala Mondal v. The State of West Bengal and Others
Case Number: W.P.A. 22494 of 2026
Judge: Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya
Decision Date: September 14, 2026
