Purbasthali Thana Rg Party Puja Trust Board v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

19.06.2023.

Court No.13 Item No. 3 ap W.P.A. No. 23273 of 2022 Purbasthali Thana R.G. Party Kali Puja Trust Board & Anr.

Versus

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Rabi Sankar Chattopadhyay, Mr. Sayan Chattopadhyay, Mr. Kaustav Sen, Ms. Ayesha Iman, Ms. Esha Das.

...For the petitioners.

Mr. Amal Kumar Sen, Mr. Jaharlal Dey, Mr. Sutanu Chakraborty.

...For the State.

Mr. Jyoti Prakash Chatterjee, Mr. Debottam Das.

...For the respondent nos.5 & 6.

1. Exception to the report of the respondent no.4 filed by the petitioners in Court today be taken on record.

2. There is a dispute with regard to holding of a Kali Puja at Purbasthali, Purba Bardhaman. There is a Trust Board called Purbasthali Thana R.G. Party Kali Puja Trust Board. The Trustees have been changing from time to time. The Kali Puja was being held with the active assistance of Purbasthali Police Station.

3. This Court is of the view that the police are required to ensure the law and order and investigation into crime and should not be involved in holding any religious festivals.

4. The dispute between the Trustees as to who will hold the Kali Puja at the said premises, may be

agitated before an appropriate Civil Court. It is only pursuant to the order of the Civil Court that anybody duly authorized and permitted on that behalf may hold a Kali Puja in the said premises.

5. Purbasthali Police Station shall ensure that no subscription whatsoever is demanded by any of the organizers from any of the citizens whatsoever.

6. With the aforesaid directions, the instant writ petition shall stand disposed of.

7. There will be no order as to costs.

8. All parties are directed to act on a server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

(Rajasekhar Mantha, J.)