Kolkata/IBNS, July 15 -- The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted conditional permission to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) to hold its annual July 21 Martyrs' Day programme in front of Birla Planetarium instead of its traditional venue at Esplanade.

The court also directed that the gathering should not exceed 2,500 participants. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya allowed the rally to take place on one side of the road in front of Birla Planetarium between 12 noon and 3:30 pm on July 21, while directing Kolkata Police to keep the other carriageway open for vehicular movement to minimise traffic disruption.

The TMC has organised its July 21 Martyrs' Day rally in front of Victoria House at Esplanade for several years.

However, ...