Durga Puja: Calcutta High Court tweaks earlier order, eases COVID-19 restrictions for entry into puja pandals to a limited extent

A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court has partially eased its earlier order that had declared Durga puja pandals and the surrounding areas no-entry zones for the general public in view of the COVID-19 situation. (Ajay De v. State of West Bengal).The modified order passed by the Bench of Justices Arijit Banerjee and Sanjib Banerjee has allowed for the following relaxations:Dhakis (traditional drummers) could be permitted within the designated 'no-entry areas', but not within the pandal itself. Dhakis should wear mask and maintain hygiene and distancing norms.For all other purposes, 'no entry zone' was to be strictly maintained.The list of names of persons permitted entry into the puja area was to be a daily chart rather than a fixed list of people. Charts have been directed to be hung up by 8 AM every day. Though a chart for a small pandal could include 30 names, only 15 persons will be allowed inside a pandal at a time. Organisers of larger pujas could name 60 persons but only a maximum of 45 persons was allowed to remain or stay inside the pandal at any given time..The Court was hearing a batch of eight applications challenging its earlier order. Various aggrieved Puja Committees filed the applications, claiming mala fides on the part of the petitioner in the original litigation because he did not implead the Committees to his case. .The preparations for the puja were already complete, and the organisers had already taken precautions to maintain safety in and around the pandals as per the State's original guidelines, the Court was told. .Any attempt to interfere with the preparations would mean persons would be unable to offer prayers to the deity, it was further submitted..Another plea termed the Court's original order as a substitute rather than a supplement for the State's guidelines, adding that the Court could not interfere with executive policy. .It was also said that a distance of 5 or 10 metres between the pandal and the public would not serve any purpose as persons would congregate beyond this point. The applicant also argued that a fixed list of persons would be impractical as various persons would have to enter the pandal at various times..Limiting entry to the pandal for the priest would also deny entry to dhakis whose livelihood depended on participating in pujas, it was additionally argued. .Grievances with regard to lack of space to maintain the distances specified by the Court in its earlier order and allied arguments were also submitted to the Bench..All the petitions also challenged their non-joinder to the original proceedings..Adding to the applicant's submissions, the State pointed out that a Central Government Notification has allowed for a maximum of 100 persons at religious, political and other gatherings..The Court, however, declined to modify the order beyond a limited extent and disposed of the applications..Read the Order: