Kolkata, July 15 (IANS) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday rejected the plea from the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress to hold the Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 at the traditional venue in front of the CESC House near Esplanade in Central Kolkata.

A petition filed by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction seeking permission to organise the rally at the traditional venue came up for hearing at the single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya this morning.

After the first round of hearing earlier in the day, the bench asked the state government to clarify its stand in the matter by the second half. As the state government suggested an alternative venue for the event, the second round of hearings in the matter started.

Finally, Justice Bhattacharya’s bench permitted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction to conduct the rally on July 21 in front of Birla Planetarium, also in central Kolkata.

The bench, at the same time, imposed several restrictions on the rally at the alternative venue.

The first condition is to limit the number of participants in the rally, which the court clearly said should not exceed 2,500. At the same time, the gathering will be restricted to one of the two lanes in front of Birla Planetarium, keeping the other lane free for vehicular movement.

Justice Bhattacharya’s bench also fixed the rally timing and duration from noon to 3 p.m.

The state government counsel initially argued and pleaded with the court to restrict the number of participants to 500, considering that there were a number of schools and hospitals near the Birla Planetarium.

The petitioner’s counsel and four-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member, Kalyan Banerjee, accused the state government of picking issues and excuses to deny permission for the rally.

He also requested the court to allow a maximum number of participants at 5,000. However, the state government countered that figure and argued that even a gathering of 3,000 people would be a matter of inconvenience for the people.

Finally, Justice Bhatacharya’s bench fixed the maximum number of participants at 2,500. The Bench also directed the police to maintain law and order and ensure that there would be no untoward incident during the event.

Meanwhile, the rebel-majority faction in Trinamool Congress, led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, has also sought permission from Kolkata Police to hold a separate rally on the same occasion on July 21 on Jawaharlal Nehru Road in central Kolkata. The city police have given them permission to hold the event.

–IANS

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