Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked the state to present its stance by Monday on the permission sought by CPM’s students’ and youths’ wings for a rally at Esplanade.
SFI, DYFI and a junior doctors’ group approached the HC for a directive to police to grant permission for programmes in Esplanade. They challenged the KP commissioner’s Sept 25 notification, prohibiting gathering of five or more people for 60 days under Sec 163 of BNSS.
Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj asked if Durga Puja in the area would be affected by the order. The state counsel said it applied to 60 sq-m area from KC Das to Victoria House. The state said it had been in effect since Nov 2023. —Srishti Lakhotia