Calcutta HC May Regulate Protests in Bengal to Prevent Public Property Damage
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Kolkata, Dec 3 (NationPress) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday, noted that the court may in the future impose regulations on protests and demonstrations in instances where such events result in damage to public property and assault on government personnel.
During the session, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh granted permission for an independent agency to hold a demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Road in central Kolkata on December 5, aimed at protesting the attacks and abuses against minority Hindus in Bangladesh.
While allowing the demonstration, Justice Ghosh clarified that if any incidents of destruction of public property or attacks on officials occur during the protest, the court might enforce restrictions on future demonstrations.
Justice Ghosh also remarked that such regrettable incidents during protests are often staged to attract public attention, and the court will not condone these actions under any circumstances.
The planned protest is expected to draw a crowd of approximately 2,500 attendees. Given that the demonstration site falls under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, the organizing committee sought consent from both the Army and the Kolkata Police.
The city police have already stated that they will have no objections to the event, provided that permission from the Army is secured. Subsequently, the Calcutta High Court approved the demonstration with a caution.
In recent days, numerous protests have erupted across various regions of West Bengal regarding the assaults and injustices faced by minority Hindus in neighboring Bangladesh, as well as the detainment of monks from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) there.
On Tuesday, Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader in the West Bengal Assembly, emphasized that it is crucial for Hindus in India, regardless of their political affiliations, to unite against the persecution of minority Hindus in Bangladesh.
