The Court: The writ petitioners are certain well-known social organisations who have joined together in filing the writ application which is in the nature of public interest litigation.

2. The cause of action for the writ petition is the decision taken by the authorities of the Indian Museum situated at 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta-16 to erect a multi-storeyed complex in the aforesaid premises by encroaching upon and filling up the major portion of a two hundred year old historical water body or tank situated in the campus of the said Museum.

3. Appearing in support of the writ petition, Mr. Ahin Chudhuri at the very outset submitted that the writ application was being moved in the public interest with the sole object of protecting the environmental condition of the city of Calcutta and the said water body or pond, which is both of ecological as well as historical importance.

4. Mr. Chaudhuri submitted further that the tank in question, historically known as "the Zin-zira Talao", was one of twelve fresh water tanks exavated in the city of Calcutta in the early part of the 18th century for the purpose of supplying water to the central sector of the city and also for the