Durga immersion row: Bengal govt not approaching SC against Calcutta HC order
Hours after Calcutta HC's Chief Justice's division bench disallowed Mamata government's curb on the immersion of goddess Durga on Ekadashi (Oct 1) for Muharram processions, the state on Thursday evening decided to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the apex court, challenging the HC's order.
Surprisingly, Kalyan Banerjee claimed that Calcutta HC's judgement is not against the state.
"As the interim verdict of the Calcutta High Court is in our favour, we are not challenging it in the Supreme Court," Banerjee told IBNS.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a high-level meeting with her senior officials and ministers on Friday afternoon to discuss the matter, sources said.
On Thursday, a division bench of the Calcutta HC, comprising newly appointed Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Harish Tandon, disallowed West Bengal government's decision to restrict the immersion of goddess Durga on Oct 1 to allow Muharram celebrations in the state and said that all Durga idols, which will reach the immersion ghats before 12 am on all days, including Muharram day, can be immersed.
The division bench has also directed the state administration to make adequate arrangements so that Durga immersion and Muharram processions can be done simultaneously in a harmony.
Earlier on Aug 23, after holding a meeting with Durga puja organizers in Kolkata, CM Mamata Banerjee declared a curb on Durga idol immersion on Bijoya Dashami, Sept 30, after 6 pm. and on Ekadashi (Oct 1) whole day as Muharram is scheduled to be observed on the same day.
Challenging the decision, at least three petitions were filed in the Calcutta High Court.
Later, the Bengal government extended the immersion deadline till 10 pm on Dashami (Sep 30) but did not lift the ban on immersion on Ekadashi (Oct 1).
Last year, the state government had put same restrictions on immersion for Muhharam and few puja organizers moved the Calcutta High Court against it.
The High Court slammed state government for the announcement and granted additional time to the petitioners for idol immersion.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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