Kolkata HC cancels Bengal Police's directive, junior doctors' protest carnival gets permission

The Greater Calcutta High Court has withdrawn Section 163 imposed by the Bengal Police on Rani Rasmoni Road and the Red Road and allowed the holding of a junior doctors' protest carnival. Hearing the case, Justice Ravi Kishan Kapoor said everybody had the right to peaceful protest and that the court respected the right. Along with this, the court also issued a directive to the police to put up barricades for security between Rani Rasmoni Road and Red Road.

During the hearing of the case, the High Court asked whether only in this area the Section 163 has been implemented, or it was implemented in other places too. During the hearing, Justice Kapoor asked the state government to clarify that if crowds can gather for Durga Puja Carnival at pandals and Red Road, then what was the reason for stopping the doctors' carnival.

Information states that the West Bengal government has been arranging for this Durga Puja Carnival since 2016 in the city, showcasing many award-winning idols. To this, the vacation bench of Justice Ravi Krishna Kapoor has granted permission to the carnival of Joint Forum Doctors Forum on Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata. Not only this, but the court has also ordered that police will arrange for the safety of the doctors. The court has passed the order in response to a PIL filed by a 'Joint Forum of Doctors Forum' against denial of permission by the Kolkata Police to hold the Durga Puja Carnival on Rani Rasmoni Avenue. It is to be informed to Kolkata Police, prior to the event, as to how many people these are going to gather. The carnival has to be hosted in a peaceful environment.

The state government had suggested holding this carnival on some other day and proposed to organize it at Ramlila Maidan instead of Rani Rasmoni Road. Regarding which, senior advocate Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya appearing for the petitioner told the court that he is opposed to this, saying that the police cannot decide which program will be held on which day. Doctors are not hooligans and their demonstration will be completely peaceful.