Fully Vaccinated People Can Enter Durga Puja Pandals, Rituals Such As Anjali, Arati, Sindur Khela Allowed: Calcutta HC Relaxes Restrictions

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday relaxed some restrictions pertaining to this year's Durga Puja celebrations. The Court has permitted double vaccinated persons to participate in rituals such as Anjali, Arati, Sindur Khela etc inside the premises of the puja pandals.

A Bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Roy and I. P. Mukerji however cautioned that pursuant to its last year's directions, at the smaller pandals only 15 persons will be permitted entry and 25 to 30 persons will be allowed entry in respect of the bigger pandals.

"Entry into a pandal shall be limited to the maximum number of persons permitted entry into it at any point of time, by the said orders of this court. Such entry shall be unrestricted provided each visitor is double vaccinated and wears a mask", the Court observed.

The Bench further ordered that the Puja organisers have to ensure the compliance of the aforementioned entry requirements and that in the event of default, all activities in the concerned pandal will be subject to cancellation.

"This entry requirement compliance shall be checked by the Puja organisers at the entrance. Spot verification is to be made by the police. If any, Puja organisation is found to be in default, the Puja and all other activities in that pandal may be forthwith cancelled by the police", the Court further added.

The Court however clarified that all other directions issued last year vide order dated October 19, 2020 will continue to apply. 

A Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj on October 1 had observed that prior guidelines issued will continue to be in abeyance this year as well and accordingly held that all pandals where Durga Puja is being celebrated this year, shall be made no-entry zones for members of the public in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

The directions were issued in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking the Court's leave to direct the State authorities to ensure that proper arrangements are made so that there is no large gatherings at Puja pandals across the city. The petitioner had also contended that the Court must impose similar restrictions as last year to contain the spread of Covid.

Directions Issued Last Year

• In public interest, all pandals where at Durga Puja is being celebrated this year are made no-entry zones for members of the public. Further, for the smaller pandals, a five-metre zone beyond the extremities of the pandals on all sides and, for the larger pandals, a 10-metre zone beyond the extremities of the pandal on all sides will be a part of the no-entry zone.

• The only exception would be for the named personnel, including the priest, who will be identified by the puja organisers in advance and whose names would be displayed for checks to be made at any point of time. At the smaller pandals 15 persons will be named in the list who may have access to the no-entry zone at all times. The number will be 25 to 30 in respect of the bigger to the biggest pandals.

• These directions will apply to all public puja pandals all over the State, including the 34,000 pujas which have obtained grants from the State.

• It will be open to the local police administration to identify which of the pandals will be regarded as small pandals for the restricted zone to be a distance of 5m beyond the furthest extremities of the pandals on all sides.

• Similarly, the local police authorities will identify which of the bigger puja pandals will require a 10m distance from the extremities of the pandals on all sides for the same to operate as a no-entry zone.

• It is necessary, particularly in small towns across the State, for an awareness campaign to be conducted even by the local media at such places to request people to maintain the distancing norm in the present COVID times and not to descend on the streets in hoards as in regular years to celebrate the Durga Puja festival.

Importantly, the Court had said, "The court hopes that the message is spread by the police and the executive authority all over the State to make people aware that it is in their interest that a degree of self-restraint must be exercised all around. The State and the police authorities will take immediate appropriate steps to give complete effect to this order."

Case Title: Ajay Kumar De v. State of West Bengal

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