The observation by the division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya came while permitting West Bengal state government employee unions and associations to hold a rally in Howrah to raise their grievances against the state government and demand a pay hike.

“Undoubtedly mishti doi, aloo posto and luchi are inextricably part of Bengal’s culture, it appears that public rallies, protests etc are also a part of this culture. In our opinion, all Bengalis are born orators. The state is filled with culture and heritage,” the bench observed, while hearing an appeal by the state government against a single bench order which had on Wednesday allowed the rally to be taken out.

However, the division bench clarified that the state government employees would only be allowed to carry out the rally and not indulge in any public meeting or speeches at the end of the rally. It also refused to consider the apprehension of the state government that participants of the rally would disturb the law and order in the city.

“These are government employees and not workers of any political party. All the members of this Union owe a duty to the society and the state. So, we have no doubt in mind that they will conduct themselves in such a manner befitting a government employee. It’s high time organisers of such rallies, be it political or others, devise alternate ways and means to voice their grievances as such rallies on arterial roads cause great inconvenience to the public at large,” observed the Chief Justice.