Calcutta HC pulls up TMC civic body for trying to block Ram Navami puja, grants permission

The Calcutta High Court today asked the South Dum Dum Municipality to grant permission to a city residents group to perform Ram Navami puja on Wednesday.

Expressing displeasure at the civic body's failure to act on the group's plea pending for several days, Justice Harish Tandon ordered for grant of necessary permission immediately. The single-judge bench directed the fire brigade, the police and the power supply authorities to take decisions accordingly before the scheduled commencement of the puja.

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Organisers 'Lake Town Ram Navami Puja Committee' had moved the high court seeking direction to the municipal body to grant necessary permission, stating that its application had not been acted upon since it was made on March 22. The petitioner's counsel Lokenath Chatterjee submitted that a reminder had also been given to the authorities concerned at South Dum Dum Municipality on March 29, but there was no response.

The authorities had granted permission for the puja in 2016 and the application was made this year in accordance with all the rules and guidelines, Chatterjee submitted. Noting that the puja is scheduled for tomorrow, Justice Tandon refused to stay the application as prayed for by the municipal body and asked it to accord permission. The Trinamool Congress-run South Dum Dum Municipality is situated in the eastern outskirts of the metropolis.