Calcutta High Court Issues Guidelines For ‘Rally’ By About 600 Govt Job Aspirants Who Were Denied Group-D Appointments

The Calcutta High Court has allowed a ‘rally’ to be organised by job aspirants on 27^th September, who were denied appointments as Group-D employees under the Government of West Bengal, despite having requisite qualifications.

A single bench of Justice Jay Sengupta, while allowing the plea, directed the petitioners to hold such a procession, along the designated route, until 5pm, and in accordance with law.

"It is clarified that the entire programme should come to an end at 5 pm."

State government was directed to make necessary police arrangements for security of the demonstrators and passers-by.

The lead petitioner was Convenor of the “WBGDRB 2017 Group-D Waiting, Aikya Mancha,” who were a group of aspirants who had not been granted appointment as Group-D employees in the Government of West Bengal, despite being qualified for the role.

Petitioners had been sitting in a peaceful demonstration near Maidan since 2022 and wished to hold a road march at 1pm on 27^th August with around 600 participants.

While the initial route suggested turned down by the authorities due to a promulgation of 144 CrPC in the relevant area, an alternative route from Theatre Road to Hazra More had been agreed with the State

Counsel for the State submitted that due to the 144 CrPC orders, as well extreme traffic congestion, the petitioners earlier route choice could not be allowed, but that an alternate route had been agreed upon, subject to the petitioners maintaining law and order.

Accordingly, in allowing the petitioners to conduct their demonstration between 1pm-5pm, the Court directed for the police forces to maintain a sharp vigil over the relevant areas.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Cal) 285

Case: Ashis Khamrai v State of West Bengal and others

Case No: WPA 22637 of 2023

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