Gangasagar Mela Monitoring Panel Reconstituted, Negative RTPCR Report Made Mandatory: Calcutta HC Modifies Event Conditions

The Calcutta High Court on Monday modified certain conditions imposed earlier while allowing the State Government to hold this year's Gangasagar Mela amidst the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in the State of West Bengal. 

It may be noted that every year, on Makar Sankranti, lakhs of Hindu devotees flock to the Sagar Island in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district to take a holy dip and offer prayers at the Kapil Muni temple. This year, the Mela is scheduled to take place from January 8 to January 16, 2022.

On last Thursday, the Court had reserved judgment in the plea seeking cancellation of this year's Gangasagar Mela amidst the spike in Covid-19 cases in the State and on Friday, it had allowed the Mela by imposing several conditions including the formation of a three-member committee to regulate the crowd in the Mela and ensure compliance of directions issued by the Court.

Read more about the Order and Conditions imposed therein: Breaking: Calcutta HC Allows Ganga Sagar Mela; Forms 3-Member Committee To Oversee Compliance Of COVID Protocols [Read Order]

Now, on Monday, the Court modified and added certain conditions on the event, which is presently underway. The changes/additions made are as follows:

• Earlier, a three Member Committee comprising of (i) Leader of Opposition in the State or his representative, (ii) Chairman, West Bengal Human Rights Commission or his representative and (iii) representative of the State was constituted which will keep vigil in respect of compliance of the above directions as also measures suggested by the State in the affidavit dated 06th January, 2022.

- Now, this committee has been substituted by constituting a two-member Committee comprising Smt. Samapti Chatterjee, Retired Judge of the Calcutta High Court as Chairperson and Member Secretary, West Bengal Legal Services Authority as a member.

- This has been done in response to the submission of the State Government that the Committee formed by the Court should not only be an independent Committee but it should not have political members. 

• The Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal will ensure that only persons who have received the two-dose of COVID vaccination and are having a second vaccination certificate are permitted to enter the Sagar Islands during the Mela period.
• Only those who are having COVID negative in RTPCR report of within 72 hours, will be permitted to enter the Sagar Islands.
• The competent authority of the State has been directed to issue a notification in terms of Section 3 of Gangasagar Mela Act, 1976 declaring the whole of the area within the Sagar Islands as a notified area within 24 hours.
• The Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal will be personally liable to ensure the compliance of the above directions as also the directions contained in the order of this Court dated 7th of January, 2022 passed in WPA(P) 1 of 2022.

Case Title: Dr. Avinandan Mondal v. State of West Bengal & Ors
Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Cal) 1
[To be read with this report]

Click Here To Read/Download Order