Calcutta HC division bench allows Amit Shah's public meeting, rejects Bengal govt appeal

Calcutta High Court upholds single bench order allowing BJP to hold public meeting in Kolkata on Nov 29. Court noted processions, rallies and meetings are regular feature in WB and no permission was needed. Single bench order subject to reasonable restrictions and 28 terms and conditions set out in application format.

Observing that processions, rallies and meetings are a "regular feature" in West Bengal, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday upheld a single bench order allowing a public meeting to be organised by BJP and addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 29 in Kolkata.

The division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam dismissed an appeal by the West Bengal government, challenging the November 20 order of the single bench.

Taking notice of the fact that processions, rallies and meetings "are a regular feature in the state of West Bengal and more particularly in Kolkata", it upheld the order of the single judge bench which had allowed the BJP to hold the public meeting in front of Victoria House at Esplanade in central Kolkata on November 29.

The division bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, observed that there have been several instances which have come to the notice of the court where rallies, meetings and agitations have been held for which no permission has been obtained.

The State government had moved the appeal before the division bench, challenging the single bench order.

The BJP had moved the high court against a rejection by the Kolkata Police of its application for holding the November 29 meeting, which, the party said, is to be addressed by Amit Shah.