Will Recommend To ECI To Defer Behrampore Lok Sabha Polls Over Ram Navami Violence: Calcutta High Court

In an important development, the Calcutta High Court has remarked that it would recommend to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer the Lok Sabha polls slated to be held in West Bengal's Behrampore over a plea on violence that occurred during the festival of Ram Navami in the area. 

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya orally remarked:

"We will recommend to the ECI that when people can't enjoy a festival for a few hours peacefully, they shall not be entitled to elect their representatives to the parliament, so that the elections shall be deferred. Let us see. Some trivial incident…may lead to a big explosion. It is not that all these incidents are pre-planned. The day of the festival…something can get into a person and he [may instigate others]…but this intolerance [is] on both sides.”

These observations came in pleas highlighting violence which occurred during Ram Navami celebrations in Behrampore, earlier this month. The Court is also seized of another matter pertaining to violence on Ram Navami in 2023, being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

In hearing the petitioners, the court recorded their agreement that this was the first time such violence had occurred in the Behrampore area, and called for affidavits from the state on the nature of violence and events that occurred during the Ram Navami celebrations.