Calcutta HC spoke in BJP's rath yatra wheel

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday quashed the order of a single judge bench allowing BJP'S rath yatra in Bengal, conditionally. The division bench also sent the case back to the single bench.

The division bench asked the single bench to look into the intelligence reports submitted by the state government on the possible repercussions of holding the rath yatra and dispose the case. It also pointed out that the state government has submitted 36 intelligence reports in this regard.

During the hearing, the state government's advocate general Kishore Dutta argued that the single judge bench has not given due consideration to the intelligence reports from five police commissioners and 31 police districts. The intelligence reports apprehended communal tension if BJP's rath yatra was allowed.

The single bench in its order had allowed BJP'S yatra with certain conditions. The bench said that before the yatra was set to enter a district from another, the Superintendent of Police concerned should be informed 12 hours in advance. It also said that if any public property was damaged during the yatra, the BJP would be equally accountable as the state government. The single bench also made it clear that no disruption to public life and vehicular traffic should be caused by the event.

However, the state government challenged the single bench order before a division bench as it had denied permission for the rath yatra.

The BJP has planned three rath yatras in Bengal from the districts of South 24 Paraganas, Cooch and Birbhum.