Calcutta High Court Orders Space for VHP Stall at Kolkata Book Fair
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has mandated the Publishers & Booksellers Guild to provide a stall for the Vishva Hindu Parishad at the upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair, scheduled from January 28 to February 9, 2023, amid controversy regarding the guild's previous denial.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court intervenes for VHP stall.
- Kolkata International Book Fair dates: January 28 - February 9.
- Previous denials based on procedural and content sensitivity.
- VHP has participated since 2011.
- No Bangladeshi publishers this year due to political issues.
Kolkata, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court issued a directive on Friday to the Publishers & Booksellers Guild, the entity responsible for organizing the Kolkata International Book Fair, to allocate space for the stall of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) during this year's annual event, set to take place from January 28 to February 9.
Justice Amrita Sinha further instructed the Guild representatives to present their position before her bench at the next hearing scheduled for January 20.
The Guild had previously denied the VHP's request for a stall at the 48th edition of the Kolkata International Book Fair.
The VHP subsequently filed a petition with the Calcutta High Court challenging the Guild's decision.
During the proceedings, the Guild's counsel cited two primary reasons for the refusal: first, that the VHP did not adhere to the proper procedures when applying for stall space, and second, the 'highly sensitive' nature of the organization's published materials.
In response, the VHP's counsel contended that Vishva Hindu Varta, the publishing arm of the VHP, had successfully obtained stall space at the Kolkata International Book Fair since 2011, questioning the justification for the denial this time.
Justice Sinha then pressed the Guild's counsel on why there was suddenly heightened concern regarding the sensitive nature of the VHP's publications this year.
She remarked that “there is a limit to everything and no one should cross the limit of courtesy”.
She instructed the Guild to clarify their stance at the next hearing.
Notably, unlike past years, there will be no participation from publishers in Bangladesh at this year's event, reportedly due to the ongoing political turmoil there.
This year, with Germany as the theme country, the Publishers & Booksellers Guild has confirmed participation from other nations including the UK, US, France, Italy, Spain, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia, but has not received confirmations from any Bangladeshi publishers.
