Calcutta High Court Directs Police To Protect TMC's Martyrs' Day Venue, Seeks Report On Alleged Vandalism Despite Earlier Order

The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the Kolkata Police to provide protection for dismantling and removing materials from the venue of a Martyrs' Day programme after allegations that the site was vandalised despite an earlier court order directing adequate police protection for the event.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya also called for a report from the Joint Commissioner of Police detailing the steps taken to implement the Court's earlier directions. The matter has been directed to be listed on Friday.

The hearing arose out of allegations that the venue for the Martyrs' Day programme scheduled for July 21 was vandalised notwithstanding the Court's previous order directing the police to ensure that the meeting was held peacefully.

At the hearing, counsel for the petitioner submitted that while the programme had gone ahead, the organisers apprehended further damage while dismantling the stage and removing sound systems and other materials from the venue. The petitioner sought police protection to enable them to safely remove the remaining items.

Opposing the plea, the Advocate General submitted that the police had already deployed personnel in terms of the Court's earlier order and argued that isolated acts by individuals could not always be prevented.

The Court, however, questioned the effectiveness of the police deployment if vandalism had taken place despite its earlier directions.

"If the police is there then how is this happening?" Justice Bhattacharyya orally remarked.

When the Advocate General argued that the police could not prevent every untoward incident, observing that "if two motorcycles come and disrupt what can be done", the Court responded that once it had permitted the meeting and directed the authorities to provide protection, any attempt to violate its order ought to be prevented.

"When the Court directed the meeting to take place, violators must be stopped," the Bench observed.

Taking note of the petitioner's apprehensions, the Court directed the Joint Commissioner of Police to ensure adequate protection until 10 pm on Monday to enable the organisers to dismantle the stage and safely remove all articles from the venue.

Dictating the order, the Court recorded that it had earlier directed the police to provide adequate protection for the peaceful conduct of the meeting and reiterated that the Joint Commissioner of Police should provide all necessary protection in that regard. The Court further directed the officer to file a report disclosing the steps taken pursuant to its directions.

Before rising, Justice Bhattacharyya orally told the Additional Advocate General: "Provide protection. If these things happen even after orders of the Court, then the dignity of this Court will be tarnished."

The Court also observed that it had received video clips of the alleged vandalism, stating that the footage had been forwarded to the High Court Secretariat and thereafter placed before the Bench.

The matter will be heard again on Friday, when the Court will consider the police's report on the implementation of its earlier order and the allegations of vandalism at the Martyrs' Day venue.