WP(C) 602/2009 BEFORE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE HN SARMA Heard Mr AK Goswami, learned senior counsel for the petitioner and Ms H Phukan, learned GA, Assam. The challenge made in this writ petition is the order dated 14.11.2008 p assed by the Director of Panchayat and Rural Development, Assam, in terms of the order dated 18.8.2008 passed by this Court in WP(C) No 3527/2008. In WP(C) No 3 527/2008, the petitioner challenged the action of the Dhubri Zilla Parishad in s ettling the New Takimari Hat without inviting any tender since the year 2000 an d thereafter for another five years since 9.7.2008 in favour of the respondent N o 7. This Court disposed of the said writ petition on 18.8.2008 directing the Di rector of Panchayat, Assam, to consider the grievance of the petitioner as regar ds holding of the market over a plot of land of the petitioner and settlement of the market in favour of the respondent No 7. In terms of the said order, the Di rector of Panchayat, Assam, vide impugned order dated 14.11.2008 disposed of the matter holding, inter alia, that the market in question is now shifted to a plo t of land covered by Dag No 1162, Patta No 384 of village Khoptai Pt- II measuri ng ten bighas of land and settled with the respondent No 7 for a period of five years as per government rules and regulations at the rate of 5% enhancement per annum over the government bid value. Mr Goswami, learned senior counsel, submits that in fact the river Jinji ran has already eroded the original place wherein the market in question was sit uated. The aforesaid submission of the learned senior counsel fortifies the rep ort of the Deputy Commissioner. The market is now continuing in a plot of govern ment land covered by Dag No 1558, patta No 1405. Accordingly, there is no grieva nce as on date as regards shifting of the market from the land of the petitioner . As regards settlement of the market in favour of the respondent No 7 for a per iod of five years, it is seen that the market in question is a panchayat market and it is required to be settled by the Panchayat authorities by inviting tender s by the Anchalik Panchayat for a period of one year with effect from 1.7.2009 t o 30.6.2010. As per the provisions of section 105 of the Assam Panchayat Act rea d with relevant rules the settlement of a market is not permissible beyond one y ear. There is no power of extension of the period of settlement of the market by any authority. In that view of the matter, the settlement of the market beyond one year is not tenable under the law. In that view of the matter, the impugned order dated 14.11.2008 stands set aside and quashed. Now the Fekamari Anchalik P anchayat shall invite tenders for settlement of the market and after receipt of the tender documents, the market shall be settled with the highest tenderer or t he same shall be forwarded to the Zilla Parishad if its value exceeds the limit of the Anchalik Panchayat. The tender notice shall be issued within a period of fifteen days by the Anchalik Panchayat from the date of receipt of a certified c opy of this order. The process of settlement of the market shall be made after o ne month thereafter. The respondent No 7 shall continue for three weeks with the existing settlement. The writ petition stands disposed of.