A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, 10 August granted conditional permission for a protest rally on Tuesday against the West Bengal government's directive ordering the removal of microphones and loudspeakers from all religious places across the state. The court's intervention came after Kolkata Police denied permission for the demonstration at the last moment.

How the Court Permission Was Secured

A petition was moved before Justice Sougata Bhattacharya by Abdul Samad, represented by advocate and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay. The matter was taken up in the second half of Monday and concluded with conditional approval for the rally.

Justice Bhattacharya's bench curtailed the proposed route. The petitioner had sought permission for a march from Rajabazar in North Kolkata to Rani Rashmoni Road in Central Kolkata; the court restricted it to the Rajabazar–Moulali stretch. The rally must begin at 11 am and conclude within one hour. Notably, no microphones or loudspeakers will be permitted during the rally itself.

Court's Rebuke of Police Conduct

Justice Bhattacharya expressed sharp displeasure over the police's handling of the permission request. The application had been submitted on 3 August, yet the denial was communicated only on the evening of 7 August — four days later — which the judge described as rejection on 'flimsy grounds at the last moment.'

Advocate General Surajit Nath Mitra, appearing for the state, told the court that permission was denied because certain information had not been disclosed in the original application.

PIL Filed Seeking Withdrawal of State Order

Separately on Monday, a public interest litigation was filed before a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, seeking the withdrawal of the state government's order on the removal of microphones and loudspeakers from all religious places in West Bengal. The PIL has been admitted, though the date of the first hearing is yet to be announced.

Political Background and Government's Position

The West Bengal government's loudspeaker directive has sparked a political storm, with opposition parties alleging that the order disproportionately targets mosques. However, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari clarified that the action was not limited to any single faith — it applies equally to all religious places, including temples. The government has maintained that the order is a uniform noise-regulation measure.

This comes amid a broader pattern of loudspeaker-related controversies across Indian states, where similar directives have repeatedly drawn legal and political challenges. With the PIL now admitted before the Calcutta High Court's division bench, the constitutional validity of West Bengal's order is set to face judicial scrutiny in the weeks ahead.