Sangrami Joutha Mancha And ANR. v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Sl.No.

19.12.2024 WPA 29973 of 2024 Court No. 35 G.S.Das Sangrami Joutha Mancha & Anr.

-VsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Siddhartha Banerjee Mr. Debapriya Mitra Mr. Arka Nandi Mr. Sutirtha Nayek ... for the petitioner(s) Mr. Amitesh Banerjee, ld. Sr. St. Counsel Mr. Akash Dutta ... for the State-respondent The petitioners have approached this court for Sit In Demonstration to be held at 'Nabanna Bus Terminus' around 00.01 hrs on 22nd December, 2024 to 00.01 hrs on 24th December, 2024.

The petitioners submit that the demonstration would be peaceful, as because, the issues which they intend to canvass are for drawing the attention of the Government.

The petitioners had applied for

permission to the office of the Commissioner of Police, Howrah. However, the Convenor of the petitioners has been informed the following grounds on which the police authorities have refused to grant permission to them, which are as follows:

(1) You have failed to submit the copy of the land permission from HIT/KMDA department to hold the proposed programme at Nabanna Bus Stand as informed from this end vide this office Memo No.

180/O-Per/2024 Dated.

03/12/2024 & subsequent reminder vide Org.No. 415/AA & OLD/2024 Dated. 09/12/2024.

(2) Nabanna Bus Stand is a very busy area.

Allowing any demonstration in that place will not only disrupt normal traffic flow but also cause serious inconvenience to school students and office goers.

(3) Nabanna and its surrounding areas fall under high security zone.

Provisions of section of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, have been promulgated around Nabanna area. Hence, any demonstration in the vicinity of Nabanna is not allowed."

This court proposed the petitioners for a nearby location being Mandirtala Bus Stand, wherein, this Court, earlier, granted permission with the consent of the State administration.

However, the petitioners insist that they would only agree for Sit In Demonstration at the Nabanna Bus Terminus.

In view of the Nabanna Bus Terminus being a sensitive area which falls under the high security zone, I am not inclined to accede to the prayer advanced on behalf of the petitioners, particularly, in respect of the place for which they have approached this court.

With the aforesaid observations, WPA 29973 of 2024 is dismissed.

Supplementary Affidavit so filed be kept with the record.

Parties to act on a server copy of this order duly collected from the official website of the Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta.

(Tirthankar Ghosh, J.)