'West Bengal Is A Very Tolerant Society': High Court On Plea Seeking To Stop Protest Near State Secretariat Due To 'Gangasagar Mela'

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday disposed of a plea which sought to prevent a protest near the state secretariat against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The petitioner claimed that he was an authorised representative of the committee who organise the annual Gangasagar Mela, and that pilgrims after completing their visit to Gangasagar would be visiting the Kali temple in Kolkata to complete their pilgrimage.

It was stated that an ongoing protest in the path of the pilgrims may cause hardships and difficulties to them since many would be visiting from outstation.

In denying the plea, a division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya noted:

"During the hearing of the plea, one of us (CJ) expressed that West Bengal is a very tolerant society. They have lived and learnt to live amidst protests, rallies, demonstrations, many of them sponsred by the ruling disposition. The state has placed a procedure by which an organisation seeking to conduct a rally has to apply before the appropriate authority. There are several cases where such permissions are denied or where there are certain restrictions imposed. Therefore it is for the state to regulate the matter and ensure that the public are note put to inconvenience."

"We leave it to the state to ensure adequate measures are taken so that the pilgrims visiting the Klaighat temple are not put to any inconvenience," it added.

Case: BHARAT KUMAR MISHRA VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Case No: WPA(P)/8/2025