Likelihood of COVID-19 third wave can't be ruled out: Calcutta High Court issues restrictions for Kali Puja

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday issued a number of restrictions on the celebration of the upcoming Kali Puja, Jagadhatri Puja and Kartick Puja festivals, in view of the possibility of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic [Ajay Kumar De v. The State of West Bengal and others]..The order passed by a Division Bench of Justices Rajasekhar Mantha and Kesang Doma Bhutia stated,"This Court is equally conscious of the fact that since Covid positivity in the State is within 5%, the restrictions imposed by the State and Central Government under the Disaster Management Act and the other related Statutes, are not applicable. Yet the likelihood of relapse of the pandemic and or a third wave, cannot be ruled out and looms at large.".The petitioner in this matter sought enforcement of guidelines passed by the Court on October 7, 2021 and November 5, 2020, by which restrictions on celebration of festivals were imposed.He informed the Court that he was apprehensive of the likelihood of crowding during the said festivals, and that if the dilution contained in the October 7 order was allowed, the pandemic may manifest again in the form of a third wave. Therefore, he prayed to the Court that the November 2020 order must be enforced without any dilution. .Advocate General SN Mookherjee submitted that the State had no objection to the directions issued in the two orders..The Court found substance in the submissions of the counsel and observed that as a consequence of a prolonged lockdown, people have ventured out socially, "with vengeance.""As a consequence of this, certain areas and popular pandals have seen enormous crowds albeit outside the entry points of the particular puja. In fact, one of such Puja had to be shut down and the concerned decorative pandal pulled down," the order stated..It further observed that the onus was on citizens to ensure that there is no crowding at any place, and that people should apply curbs on their own to avoid and prevent overcrowding..In light of the above observations, the Court modified the restrictions contained in its previous orders and issued the following directions:"(i) All pandals should stay No-Entry Zones. Only dhakis will be permitted to occupy the space beyond the pandals and within the five-metre zone thereafter. (ii) For the smaller pandals, where the covered area excluding the dais is upto 150 square metre, only 10 persons may be in such covered area at any given point of time. For pandals with a covered area between 150 square metre and 300 square metre excluding the dais, the number of persons at any point of time may be 15. For bigger pandals, in excess of 300 square metre in area excluding the dais, a maximum of 45 persons can be within the pandals at any given point of time.(iii) Sanitisers, wearing of masks and social distancing norm has to be maintained at all times both within the pandals and in an around the pandals. (iv) Immersions should be low-key affairs and processions not permitted. The use of bands and lights at the time of immersion prohibited. Local police can provide for staggered timings to prevent over crowding at ghats.(v) Entry double vaccinated/masked visitors permitted. Subject to the covid restrictions all activities and puja rituals like Anjali, Arati, Sindur Khelaetc. are permitted inside the pandal. This entry requirement compliance shall be checked by the Puja organisers at the entrance. Spot verification is to be made by the police. Puja in default, may be forthwith cancelled by the police. (vi) The expression “such entry shall be provided provided each visitor is doubly vaccinated and wears mask”, not to be treated as a blanket license to one and all to throng and overcrowd the puja pandal areas in particular and street in general." .The Court further said that it would consider separate directions for Chhat Puja after it reopens on November 8, 2021..[Read order]