The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered that all Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal be declared no-entry zones in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The High Court also stated that not more than 30 organisers would be allowed to enter the respective pandals and no visitors can enter the pandals.
The Division Bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Arijit Banerjee gave the order after hearing a public interest litigation.
“In public interest, all pandals whereat Durga Puja is being celebrated this year are made no-entry zones for members of the public,” stated the order.
“In other words, the area covered by the pandals and the additional area around the pandals extending 5m from the smaller pandals and 10m from the bigger pandals
will have to be barricaded as a no-entry zone,” it added.
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The High Court also stated that 'no-entry' signages have to be put up on barricades near the pandals. It said that the Kolkata Police do not have adequate resources for crowd management if people come out on the streets in large numbers.
The High Court instructed the Kolkata Police Commissioner and the West Bengal Director General of Police to file affidavits indicating compliance with the related directions by November 5.
The order comes at a time when nearly 37,000 Durga Pujas are being organised across the state despite the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in West Bengal. Doctors had expressed concern that in case large gatherings take place during Durga Puja the number of cases may shoot up even higher.
Earlier the High Court had ordered that the amount of Rs. 50,000 given by the state government to each of the 37,000 Durga Pujas in Bengal be used only for purchasing masks, sanitiser and for community policing.