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Calcutta High Court Clears 56-Year-Old Durga Puja Amid Dispute
Developing
In Short: The Calcutta High Court has cleared the way for a 56-year-old Durga Puja tradition to continue at a disputed Kolkata property, directing the police to grant permission to the Madan Mohan Krishti Parishad, a registered society, for this year’s celebration.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, in the October 1 order, noted that the Parishad had been organizing the Durga Puja for over 56 years at the premises in question.
The court emphasized that the Parishad had the necessary permissions from Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, Fire and Emergency Services, and Pollution Control Board, but the police authority had not yet granted permission.
Senior Advocate Indranil Roy, appearing for the society, submitted that the power of attorney holder of the co-owners had permitted the puja on September 10.
In contrast, Senior Advocate Kaushik Gupta, representing the Trust, argued that the Parishad was not authorized to convene the Durga Puja without their permission.
The court, however, stated that it would not decide the ownership rights, leaving that issue to the civil court.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi issued directions to the deputy commissioner of police, South West Division, Kolkata, and the officer-in-charge of the Haridevpur Police Station to grant permission to the society for holding Durga Puja by October 5.
The court noted that the Parishad had been convening the Durga Puja for 56 years and directed the police to grant permission for the present year.
The court also took note of an affidavit filed by the Director of Horticulture, which stated that heavy and prolonged rainfall was observed when the hail-control system was operational for more than an hour.
The court impleaded the Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, as a respondent and issued notice to it, returnable within four weeks.
The court also noted that representations before it referred to alleged adverse effects associated with anti-hail guns in Mexico, Romania, and other countries.
What this adds
The court's decision to clear the 56-year-old Durga Puja tradition comes amid ongoing disputes over land ownership and permissions.
The court's decision does not address the ownership rights of the land, leaving that issue to be resolved in a civil court.
The court's decision to implead the university and issue notice regarding the hail-control system is unrelated to the Durga Puja dispute.
Background
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbed to a new 24-year high on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, surpassing its 2007 intraday peak.
What's still developing
- Justice Saugata Bhattacharya said that the earlier high court order stopping a Durga Puja in a residential building, relied upon by the respondent, was not applicable as they lacked permission from the flat owners.
- A 56-year-old Durga Puja tradition at a disputed Kolkata property recently got clearance from the Calcutta High Court, which directed the police to allow the Madan Mohan Krishti Parishad, a registered society, to hold this year’s celebration despite the ongoing eviction issue.
- The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government put an immediate halt on the operation of anti-hail guns across the state for at least one year, while observing that concerns raised by orchardists over excessive rainfall and damage to adjoining apple-growing areas appear to “stand substantiated”.
- Hearing a petition where names of six members of a family had been deleted from the electoral rolls after their Form 8 applications for a change of address were rejected, the HC said the voter is facing “a Catch-22 situation” in this matter.
- “…in the enumeration form, the declarations are such that I have to declare in a pre-filled form for a ward, where I used to reside…I have to make a declaration that please include me in that same place, and I state that I am not there in any other place. How will a person make such a declaration when he knows he is in another place. The moment he makes such a declaration, he is open to prosecution,” the court said.
- “We are asking this. Why will he sign this. This is a false statement…Why should he give a false declaration. No voter should sign this,” the bench said.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) told the court that the guidelines clearly state that if someone has not submitted the enumeration form, their name is liable to be deleted from the roll.
- “In case an elector is unable to submit their filled-in enumeration form within the specified time, they may fill Form 6 along with declaration for inclusion during the claims and objection period…Ordinarily, Form 8 is by a person whose name is there in the draft roll, but says I am no longer residing here and I have shifted. He submits his Form 8 because it refers to an existing residence on the roll. So, if you are not there on the draft roll only, what entry am I transferring under Form 8. I can’t transfer a non-existent entry,” the counsel for ECI said.
- Stating that the Election Commission has an obligation to ensure all citizens are on the electoral rolls, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday asked what the purpose of “this entire SIR process” if citizens are being removed from the voters’ list.