Ram Navami procession in Howrah gets High Court nod; limit of 500 participants imposed

The Calcutta High Court has granted permission for a Ram Navami procession in Howrah after police declined to approve the rally. The organisers approached the court seeking relief, following which the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya allowed the procession to take place on March 26 with several strict conditions.

During the hearing on Friday, the court ruled that the procession could be held but restricted the number of participants to a maximum of 500 people. The judge also directed that no metal weapons should be displayed during the procession. Instead, only symbolic weapons would be permitted, addressing concerns over public safety. The High Court further specified that the procession must take place within a fixed time window from 3 pm to 6 pm. Authorities have been instructed to closely monitor the event to ensure that law and order is maintained and that the procession is conducted peacefully without any unrest.

The order comes at a sensitive time as West Bengal prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The model code of conduct has already come into force, and central forces have begun patrolling across the state. The court’s directions also follow previous instances of tension during Ram Navami processions in Howrah in earlier years.