HC’s no to stay ban on rallies, allows puja immersions

A Division bench of Calcutta High Court today refused to stay the order of Justice Amitava Lala banning rallies and processions in the city from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, but allowed puja immersion processions.

The vacation bench, comprising Justice Alok Chakraborti and Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, while refusing to stay Justice Lala’s order, allowed the immersion processions of Durga puja, Lakshmi puja and Kali puja festivals. The bench directed that the appeal by West Bengal government against the Justice Lala’s order would be heard by a regular bench after puja holidays.

The state was permitted to move the vacation court if any exigency arose in the meantime. The court also declined to proceed with the appeal today as the signed copy of Justice Lala’s order was not yet available.