Kolkata, Sept. 25 -- Calcutta High Court on Thursday fixed October 1 for hearing a petition concerning the 136-year-old Bankra Mosque located within the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, complex.
The petition before Justice Krishna Rao challenges the indefinite restriction on access to the mosque, imposed by airport authorities citing security and aviation safety requirements.
During the hearing, senior advocate Kishore Datta sought protection against any demolition pending adjudication of the plea. He said access arrangements that had earlier allowed devotees to reach the mosque during prayer hours had since been discontinued.
Additional Solicitor General Dhiraj Trivedi, appearing for the authorities, opposed the plea, stressing that the issue involved national security considerations. He questioned the basis of seeking such relief in the matter. Additional Advocate General Bilwadal Bhattacharya also raised concerns over law-and-order implications if access was restored. The court will take up the matter on October 1.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.