Calcutta HC agrees to hear state govt’s petition challenging previous order allowing BJP's Rath Yatra

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in the state moved an appeal before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, challenging the saffron’s party major rally.

The state government expressed urgency on the matter and sought an immediate hearing.

New Delhi: Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice bench on Friday agreed to hear the state government’s petition challenging the previous single bench order which allowed BJP's ‘Rath Yatra’ in the state. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in the state moved an appeal before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, challenging the saffron’s party major rally. The state government expressed urgency on the matter and sought an immediate hearing. The division bench agreed and asked it to serve copies of its appeal to the respondent, the BJP, following which the hearing would commence. On Thursday, the HC had given its nod to the Bharatiya Janta Party for carrying out its ‘Save Democracy’ Rath Yatra in the state. The verdict of the court came as a major setback to the TMC government which had refused permission for the proposed 'rath yatra', citing intelligence reports of possible communal violence in areas where the party is planning to take out the rallies. The court rejected the reasoning of the Bengal government and said it would be "appropriate to permit the petitioner to hold the rally... to organise the yatras". "The petitioner will inform the police authorities, superintendent of district where the yatra shall enter, at least 12 hours before entering the concerned district. The commissioner will ensure conducting yatra in peaceful manner," the plea read. On December 6, a single judge bench of the HC had refused permission to the BJP to hold the 'Rath Yatra', which was scheduled to be flagged off by BJP chief Amit Shah from Cooch Behar in North Bengal on December 7. The party had then approached the division bench.