Jagadhatri Puja- Calcutta High Court Allows Restricted Immersion Procession Subject To Covid-19 Protocol

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed for restricted immersion procession to take place for Jagaddhatri puja following all Covid-19 protocol. The Court was adjudicating upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking the Court's leave to organise an immersion procession of Lord Jagaddhatri on November 14 by way of carrying out by 'song' from Rajbari to Kadamtala Ghat. 

The petitioner prayed before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj to permit immersion procession by 'song' as was permitted prior to the Covid 19 pandemic. 

However, Advocate General S.N Mookerjee apprised the Bench that such a procession cannot be permitted on account of the fact that it will be in violation of Covid 19 protocol as it may lead to long procession going through the middle of the town and the same was also not allowed last year. 

Thereafter the petitioner sought the Court's leave to allow at least some symbolic procession. Granting such a request, the Bench recorded in its order, 

"The leaned counsel for the petitioner has prayed for a limited permission that at least some symbolic procession should be allowed. Learned Advocate General has fairly stated that if the representatives of the petitioner make such a request to the concerned authority then their proposal would be duly looked into having due regard to the Covid 19 situation."

Accordingly, the petition was disposed of. 

Case Title: Ajoy Dutta v. State of West Bengal & Ors

Click Here To Read/Download Order