The Calcutta High Court has granted conditional permission for Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari to hold rallies in Malda and Cooch Behar districts in north Bengal in the New Year. Suvendu Adhikari had sought court intervention after being denied permission by the police for these rallies. Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury of the vacation bench allowed the rallies but with specific conditions, including a limit of 9,000 supporters and 70 microphones at each event.
Suvendu Adhikari is set to conduct a rally in Chanchal of Malda district on January 1, facing obstacles in obtaining approval for the event. The court was informed by the petitioner’s lawyer that the police expressed concerns about crowd control due to New Year celebrations, questioning the police’s stance. The High Court, after a detailed hearing, permitted the rally but imposed restrictions, emphasizing a cap on attendees and equipment usage.
In a similar scenario, the BJP encountered difficulties regarding a rally planned for January 2 in Cooch Behar, prompting them to approach the Calcutta High Court. Despite seeking permission from the district administration earlier, the party faced resistance from the police. The court eventually granted approval for the Cooch Behar rally, limiting the attendance to 3,000 individuals and specifying the permissible number of loudspeakers and microphones. The police were instructed to maintain order during the event to prevent any disruptions.
