The Calcutta High Court on Monday (October 12) orally suggested that the CPI(M)'s cultural wing could set up its bookstalls during Kali Puja instead of Durga Puja, while hearing a petition challenging the denial of permission to establish temporary bookstalls in Naihati and Bongaon in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned whether the petitioners' practice of setting up bookstalls during Durga Puja for around five decades automatically conferred a right to continue doing so.

Advocate Shamim Ahmed, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the authorities had denied permission this year, citing “a direction from higher authorities”.

During the hearing, the Court orally suggested that the petitioners could instead organise the bookstalls during Kali Puja, which was scheduled to take place about a fortnight later.

When the petitioners' counsel requested that the matter be released from Justice Bhattacharyya's court, the judge said he would consider the request on Tuesday (October 13).

The petition concerns the denial of permission for temporary stalls selling Marxist and progressive literature during Durga Puja at the two locations. The petitioners told the Court that they had been setting up such stalls there during the festival for the past 50 years.