Kolkata, Oct. 13 -- The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought the state government's response to allegations by the CPI(M) that its workers were being prevented from setting up bookstalls during Durga Puja at Bongaon and Panihati, including outside party offices.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya asked the state to obtain instructions on the allegations. Addressing the Additional Advocate General, the judge remarked: "They want to sell books, not food items."
The matter will be heard again on Wednesday.
Although the case was scheduled to be released from the judge's list, the court took it up considering the urgency and the time that would be required to serve fresh notices if it were assigned to another bench.
Senior advocate Samim Ahmed, appearing for the CPI(M), told the court that the party was organising bookstalls during Durga Puja for 40 to 45 years. He alleged that workers faced obstruction while attempting to erect a stall outside the party office, where a temporary structure had allegedly been put up by members of Hindu Jagran Mancha.
The petition also referred to an incident at Bongaon on October 6, when CPI(M) workers were allegedly assaulted and threatened while setting up a stall. Ahmed argued that the stalls served to disseminate information and that police permission was not required for their installation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.