HC allows BJP’s ‘rath yatra’ in West Bengal
Tribune News Service
Kolkata, December 20
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed the BJP’s ‘rath yatra’ programme in West Bengal, setting aside the state government’s refusal on apprehensions of communal unrest.
Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed the state BJP to inform the superintendents of police of the districts, in which the rallies shall enter, at least 12 hours ahead of schedule. The party was also directed to ensure that the ‘yatras’ are conducted abiding by the law and shall not disrupt normal movement of vehicular traffic.
Justice Chakraborty said the petitioner BJP would be vicariously responsible for any damage or loss of public property. He also directed that the police shall deploy adequate force to ensure that there is no breach of law and order.
While passing the judgment, the HC also said the threat to peace should be real and not imaginary.
The party had planned three ‘rath yatras’ from different parts of the state. The chariots were meant to criss-cross the state’s 42 parliamentary constituencies. The “raths” — air-conditioned buses decorated as chariots — were to hit the roads on December 7, 9 and 12, but the programme got stuck after permission was withheld by the state government on “apprehensions of major breach of peace and communal violence”. Later, the state BJP had moved the court challenging the state government’s denial of permission to its programme.
Welcoming the verdict, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said new dates for the “yatra” would be drawn up soon. He also confirmed that BJP president Amit Shah would inaugurate the first “yatra” of the series.
Court directs party to Maintain order
- The HC directed the BJP to inform the SPs of the districts, in which the rallies will enter, 12 hours ahead of schedule
- The party was also directed to ensure that the ‘yatras’ are conducted abiding by the law and shall not disrupt traffic
Rs 5 lakh fine on plea for namaz at Ayodhya
- Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected a petition seeking permission to offer namaz at the disputed site in Ayodhya
- Imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the petitioner, the court said the appeal was filed for “cheap publicity”
