Kolkata, Sep 15 The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday permitted a Biswakarma Puja in Haldia, directing police to grant necessary permission despite opposition from the West Bengal government.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the Haldia police station authorities to grant permission by September 16 for the puja, scheduled to be held on September 18 and 19.
The Haldia Refinery Sramik Karmachari Biswakarma Puja Utsav Committee had moved the high court seeking permission to organise the puja on land belonging to the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust at its Haldia dock complex.
The committee's lawyer submitted that the Fire Services Department had informed the organisers that the necessary permission would not be granted unless they obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the local police authorities.
The petitioners, therefore, sought directions to the police to grant permission for the puja.
Opposing the plea, the West Bengal government's lawyer submitted that the organisers were required to obtain an NOC from the CISF.
The court, however, noted that the land where the puja is proposed to be held belongs to the port authority and observed that the event would not cause inconvenience to the general public.
The court also questioned the requirement of an NOC from the CISF.
Justice Bhattacharyya directed the police authorities to grant the necessary permission by September 16, enabling the organisers to obtain the NOC from the Fire Services Department.
