Synopsis
On March 12, the Calcutta High Court lifted its ban on political rallies near Jadavpur University until March 13. This decision follows tensions in the area linked to disturbances on March 1. Organizations must now seek permission from local authorities for future rallies.Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court lifted the ban on rallies near JU.
- Political organizations must seek approval from local authorities.
- The ban was initially imposed due to tensions from March 1 incidents.
- Significant protests are expected from the BJP post-exams.
- Legal disputes may follow if permissions are denied.
Kolkata, March 12 (NationPress) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, removed the previous ban on any political rally in the vicinity of the Jadavpur University (JU) campus in Kolkata until March 13 without prior court permission. This ban had been imposed the previous week due to ongoing tensions in the area stemming from disturbances within the university on March 1.
While lifting the ban on Wednesday, the single-judge bench led by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh noted that the earlier ruling from March 8 had only been partially enforced and the court is not inclined to continue overseeing this matter.
Justice Ghosh indicated that from now on, organizations or parties wishing to hold rallies in the area must seek approval from the relevant administrative authorities, who will make the final decision.
On March 8, when he instituted the temporary ban on political rallies near the university until March 13, Justice Ghosh also instructed the police to ensure that no political group receive permission to hold rallies during the specified period.
The lifting of this ban holds importance as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has declared that the BJP plans to initiate a significant protest regarding the ongoing issues at Jadavpur University following the completion of the state board's higher secondary examinations.
This situation suggests that multiple legal disputes may arise if the police deny the BJP permission to conduct political activities near Jadavpur University.
The disturbances within Jadavpur University occurred on Saturday when the State Education Minister Bratya Basu's vehicle was reportedly halted upon entering the campus, resulting in a scuffle.
Students were advocating for immediate elections for the university's student council.
The protesting students claimed that while Minister Basu attempted to leave the campus amid the protests, his vehicle deliberately struck two students, causing them serious injuries that required hospitalization.
During the protests, the West Bengal Minister sustained minor injuries and fell ill, leading to his admission to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital, from which he was later discharged.
