12 Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Wednesday said, "undertakings do not save lives", after the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, promised to give an undertaking that his public rally in Howrah's Shyampur would not cause any disturbance despite the narrow approach road.
The HC also made it clear that it is making an exception for the "last time" and will allow public rallies off highways and expressways only if they are organised along at least 20-feet-wide approach roads.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh repeatedly expressed his anxiety over how people would reach the ground in Deuli Bazar after police flagged the narrow approach roads. The state denied permission for this BJP rally, saying there were only two approach roads to the grounds: one a 50-meter stretch which is barely 7 feet wide, and another a 200-meter stretch which winds through a marketplace that is 14-16 feet wide. The HC was, however, told by the petitioners that the market was closed on Wednesday and the roads were accessible.
Justice Ghosh repeatedly asked whether people and the rallyists would be inconvenienced navigating such a narrow stretch. He also highlighted the issue of cars being parked by the rallyists. When the judge was told that Adhikari would get off on the National Highway and walk to the grounds, the state objected, saying that this would violate his Z-category security protocol, which it could never agree to. Justice Ghosh then made it clear that it is the last time he would allow any rally beside highways and expressways which do not have approach roads less than 20 feet. When the petitioner repeatedly said Adhikari would provide an undertaking for the Wednesday rally, Justice Ghosh remarked, "Only on undertaking life does not survive".
Justice Ghosh then capped the number of people attending the rally at 1,500 and directed: "So far as the plying of the vehicles and/or any convoy is concerned, it is directed that at the junction of Deuli Bazar, Kamalpur, the convoy of any VIP would be parked. The concerned VIP would by feet cover 70 meters of distance towards Deuli football ground." Other vehicles should be parked 100-200 meters away, the judge ordered.
The HC mandated that a list of 10 persons has to be given to the local Shyampur police station OC who "will, in any time of crisis, assist, cooperate and direct the members and/or sympathisers, who are participating in the meeting to abide by the instructions of the state administration". The HC also capped the timings of the meeting from 3 pm to 6 pm. This is the second case in the past two days in which the HC stepped in to allow rallies, but with stipulations. The HC also issued a dos and don'ts guideline for this rally.