The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday permitted BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to hold a public rally in Sagar Island, South 24 Parganas, after the state administration allegedly denied permission for the event.
The order came on a petition moved before the court challenging the administration’s refusal to allow the public meeting. Justice Krishna Rao directed that the rally be allowed at Rudranagar Chowringhee in Sagar Island, while laying down clear conditions to regulate the event and maintain public order.
As per the court’s directions, the meeting must conclude by 5 pm. The time restriction was fixed following a submission by senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who appeared for the West Bengal government. The court also capped attendance at the rally, allowing a maximum gathering of 7,000 people.
In addition, Justice Rao imposed limits on sound equipment at the venue. The organisers have been permitted to use up to 50 microphones and five loudspeakers for the event.
Emphasising the need to maintain law and order, the High Court directed the state administration to keep strict vigil at the rally site. The court made it clear that the responsibility of ensuring peace and security during the meeting would rest with the authorities.
The order effectively cleared the way for Adhikari’s public address in the politically sensitive region, while balancing the right to hold a rally with administrative concerns over crowd control and public safety.
