HC permits Mamata's TMC to hold 21 July rally in front of the Birla Planetarium with 3000 participants

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted permission to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to hold its annual Martyrs' Day meeting on July 21 at an alternative location on the road flank in front of the Birla Planetarium. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the Kolkata Police to ensure that the opposite flank of the thoroughfare remains completely open for regular vehicular traffic. To maintain public safety, the court explicitly capped the maximum number of rally participants at 3,000 and ordered the state police to deploy adequate personnel to uphold law and order during the event window.

The ruling came after the TMC approached the High Court, alleging that the state authorities had kept its June 27 application pending while granting clearance to the Congress and a rival TMC faction to hold meetings in the same vicinity. Senior Advocate and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee argued that the party has traditionally organized the "Shahid Divas" program in front of Victoria House since 1993 to commemorate the deaths of 13 Youth Congress workers. However, the Court highlighted that a Division Bench had previously prohibited rallies at the traditional Victoria House spot, necessitating a venue shift to prevent civic disruption.

Advocate General Surajit Nath Mitra, representing the state, opposed the Victoria House venue due to existing permissions granted to two other organizations, citing potential law and order conflicts. The state initially proposed alternative locations including Wellington Square and the Brigade Parade Ground. The petitioners ultimately suggested the Birla Planetarium area as a compromise to retain proximity to Esplanade. Accepting this, the court ordered the event to take place strictly between 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM, requiring organizers to submit a list of accountable volunteers to help police maintain order.