The Calcutta High Court ruled on Tuesday to nullify the Kolkata Police’s prohibitory orders near the venue of the Durga Puja Carnival, permitting protesters to hold a rally against the August 9 rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The event, named “Droher Carnival,” was organized by civil society members and supported by agitating doctors. They approached the High Court after the police imposed restrictions on gatherings of five or more people in central Kolkata under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur, who presided over the case, emphasized that the prohibitory order represented an unreasonable exercise of discretion and violated the Rule of Law. He stated, “Such restrictions on fundamental rights cannot possibly achieve any bona fide purpose.”
The court permitted the “Droher Carnival” to proceed close to Red Road, where the state government will host its Durga Puja carnival. The police were instructed to set up barricades between Rani Avenue and Red Road to maintain peace and ensure adequate security with a sufficient number of officers present.
In response to the court’s decision, police began dismantling roadblocks and guard rails around Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where protesters had begun to gather. Prohibitory orders were previously issued for multiple locations, including Dorina Crossing, Mayo Road, and Academy of Fine Arts.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma had expressed concerns that the “Droher Carnival” could disrupt public peace during the state-organized event. He stated that the protest was likely to cause significant disturbances, especially in connection with the Immersion Carnival on Red Road set for October 15.
Meanwhile, junior doctors, currently on an indefinite fast in Esplanade, have expressed their support for the protest. Five of the fasting doctors were hospitalized due to deteriorating health. One junior doctor remarked, “We have been on hunger strike seeking justice for the victim and reforms in the state health sector. Kolkata police are trying to prevent protests on the RG Kar issue, but we believe this is a people’s movement.”
Talks between the state government and the junior doctors, as well as discussions with senior doctors’ associations, have not yielded any resolutions, despite a lengthy meeting with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Monday.
