West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a few days back had issued orders that on the day of Vijay Dashami, the practice of immersing the Durga idol in water can be carried out only till 6 pm as after that there will be the procession of Muharram.
Banerjee has always been a supporter of the Muslim community and a held a soft corner for them. From the time she has been the Chief Minister in Bengal Mamata on several occasions has proved her inclinations towards the Muslims. Giving these orders Mamata had asked for the cooperation of the people and gave the reason that if both these events take place together, problems may arise as some people may take advantage of this opportunity and use Hindu and Muslim as a tool for their own interests.
On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court questioned the Banerjee government, while hearing a petition filed against the orders issued by the West Bengal Chief Minister. The court questioned that “why can’t two communities celebrate together?” The Chief Justice hearing the petition asked that on what basis the Banerjee government had imposed this ban. He said that thought and decisions cannot be imposed on the people without a concrete basis.
The court also ordered to show the written order from the Superintendent of Police to the District Magistrate, reading that the ban was imposed due to a threat to the peace. If the court announces decision against the orders of the Chief Minister, this will the second instance of its kind. However, Mamata Banerjee has been tight lipped over this matter.
Earlier this week the state Advocate General Kishore Dutta had submitted its report to the bench comprising Justice T Chakraborty that the government has given the permission for the immersion of the Durga idol in different water bodies, till 10 pm on 30 Sep, Vijaya Dashami, at the end of the five-day festival.
Earlier to this submission, the state on 15 Sep had also informed the court about the extension in the time set by the government for the immersion. The state told the court that time has been extended to 10 pm from 6 pm on 30 Sep. No immersion of the idols will be allowed on 1 Oct keeping in mind the processions of Moharam and the immersion can resume back from 2 Oct.
Among the two petitioners who had filed pleas in the Calcutta High Court against the decision of the Banerjee government, one pleaded that the time of immersion should be extended till 1:36 am on Vijaya Dushmi. The petitioner said that “immersion of idols in rivers and other water bodies in the state be allowed till 1:36 am on Vijaya Dashami in accordance with the ‘Vishuddha Siddhanta’, one of the three almanacs followed by Durga Puja organisers in the state. The
The second petitioner said that until a few years ago, even if both the festivals collided there was no ban on the immersion of the Durga Idol and both the processions were done peacefully. He requested that like it was done back then, same should be allowed this year to and pleaded that the immersion be allowed on 1 Oct too.
As per the latest updates, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday removed the ban imposed by the Banerjee government, allowing immersion of Durga idols on all days from Vijayadashami on September 30, including on Muharram. The court has also directed the government to make all the necessary security arrangements.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Harish Tandon asked the state government to specify the designated routes that will be used during the immersion and the Tazai procession. The court has also ordered the government to display advertisements educating the people about the routes and to ensure peace and harmony between both the communities.
The Calcutta High Court also declined the plea of the Mamata Banerjee government seeking a stay on the orders.
The Court also asked the state authorities to file an affidavit on the requests made by the petitioners who had filed the case against the Banerjee government, within three weeks after the puja holidays. It also directed the petitioners to reply back to the affidavits within two weeks of receiving it.
The next date for the hearing is set in five weeks after the puja holidays are over.