Calcutta High Court Issues Directive on Protest Locations

Kolkata – The Calcutta High Court on Friday urged the West Bengal government to establish clear guidelines designating locations for protest demonstrations across the state. This directive came after a petition by the "Group-D Unity Forum," a job-seekers' group, seeking permission to hold a three-day demonstration near the state Secretariat in Howrah.

Justice Trithankar Ghosh, presiding over the case, emphasized the need for a notification outlining permitted and prohibited areas for demonstrations, along with specific guidelines. This suggestion stemmed from the group's denial of police permission for their planned protest from November 11 to 13 at the bus depot near 'Nabanna,' the state Secretariat.

While granting the group permission to demonstrate for two days, November 11 and 12, Justice Ghosh outlined conditions. A five-member delegation from the group will submit a memorandum to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant at the conclusion of the demonstration.

Justice Ghosh countered the state government's argument that the demonstration posed security risks and suggested alternative locations, stating that the police had no grounds to obstruct the group's protest, given their non-political affiliation. The court's directive for the state government to formulate specific guidelines aims to address such situations and provide clarity on the matter.