Calcutta High Court allows BJP’s ‘Rath Yatra’ in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee. File photo

Kolkata, December 20

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed the BJP’s ‘Rath Yatra’ programme in West Bengal, setting aside the state government’s refusal on apprehensions of communal unrest.
Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed the state BJP to inform the superintendents of police of the districts, in which the rallies would enter, at least 12 hours ahead of schedule.
The party was also directed to ensure that the ‘Yatras’ were conducted abiding by the law and did not impede normal movement of vehicular traffic. Justice Chakraborty said the petitioner BJP would be vicariously responsible for any damage or loss of public property. He also directed that the police would deploy adequate force to ensure that there is no breach of law and order.
The party had planned three ‘Rath Yatras’ from different parts of the state. The chariots were meant to travel across the state’s 42 parliamentary constituencies over one-and-a-half months.

The state BJP had moved the court challenging the state government’s denial of permission to its programme. PTI