Durga Puja
Calcutta HC bars entry of common people into Durga Puja pandals
Kolkata/IBNS: In a setback for the Durga Puja organisers in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Monday barred the entry of common people into the pandals in view of Covid-19 pandemic situation in the eastern state.
The high court has declared all puja pandals no entry zones for the visitors.
Not more than 25 people, who would be the organisers, are allowed in the pandal.
The area five metres and 10 metres away from small and big puja pandals respectively will be barricaded.
West Bengal on Sunday reported the highest-ever single-day spike with 3,983 fresh infections, taking the overall tally in the state to 3,21,036.
Earlier the Calcutta HC had questioned the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over its dole of Rs.50 thousand to each of 34 thousand Durga Puja committees to conduct the festival.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday passed an interim order that all the Durga Puja committees in West Bengal, which have been granted a dole of Rs. 50,000 each by the state government, can spend the "public money" only in public interest.
The court directed that 75 per cent of the amount had to be spent to buy Covid-19 protective equipment, including masks and sanitisers, while the clubs or puja committees had to expend the remaining 25% in awareness promotion and community-policing or community oriented policing (COP).
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