The Calcutta High Court has given a green signal to the Anjani Putra Sena for organizing the "Shri Rama Navami Shobha Yatra Utsav" in Howrah on April 6, 2025. This permission comes with several conditions to ensure a peaceful and regulated event. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the order, allowing the rally to take place with a maximum of 500 participants.
The Anjani Putra Sena, a trust registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882, had initially approached the police for permission to conduct the religious procession. While the authorities granted permission, they proposed two alternate routes, which became a point of contention. As a result, the trust moved the High Court seeking approval for their preferred route starting from Lord Narasimha Temple, proceeding along G.T. Road, and concluding at Howrah Maidan.
“The petitioner/organization will take out a procession only of 500 participants who will affix a Badge and such persons would only be considered as participants of the rally/procession,” stated the senior advocate representing the trust before the court.
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The state government, through the Advocate General, raised concerns citing previous incidents during past Ram Navami processions. Several police cases, including those registered in 2022 (Shibpur PS Case Nos. 100/2022, 101/2022; Howrah PS Case Nos. 190/2022, 193/2022) and in 2023 (Shibpur PS Case Nos. 113/2023, 114/2023), were highlighted. It was also noted that one of the cases from 2023 was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which led to the arrest of 11 individuals in March 2024.
Additionally, the authorities mentioned a violation of a prior High Court order in 2024 concerning sound system misuse, registered as Shibpur PS Case No. 155/2024 dated 18.04.2024.
The Advocate General emphasized that under Section 30 of the West Bengal Police Act, the police have the authority to impose restrictions based on intelligence inputs, justifying the proposed alternate routes.
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In defense, the petitioner referred to the consistent use of the same route over several years and argued that sporadic incidents should not override the organization’s right to conduct the procession. The court acknowledged the prior use of the route and the assurance from the petitioner for a peaceful event.
“Since an undertaking has been given by the learned Senior Advocate... and the said route has been used for a considerable period of time, mere sporadic incidents should not weigh when two days are left for the rally,”
“At any point of time, the total number of participants shall not exceed about 500. The petitioner shall make necessary announcements and issue leaflets, if required.”
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The court allowed the procession on the preferred route but imposed strict guidelinesIf multiple processions are conducted, the police will arrange escort vehicles at the front and back of each rally. Adequate trained police personnel shall be deployed.
The court further mandated that the rally begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 1:00 p.m. on April 6, 2025. A list of 500 participants along with their identity proofs (EPIC/Aadhaar/PAN or other valid IDs) must be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division, Howrah.
A compliance report is expected to be filed by April 9, 2025.
