HC accepts plea against Red Road closure for 7 days due to Yoga event

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday accepted a public interest litigation challenging the West Bengal government's controversial executive order to block vehicular movement on Kolkata’s prominent Red Road for seven consecutive days. The state administration had issued the comprehensive traffic ban to facilitate extensive preparations and hosting setup for the upcoming International Yoga Day celebrations scheduled for June 21. The legal challenge has thrown a wrench into the state's logistical blueprint for the high-profile event.

Advocate Shamim Ahmed officially mentioned the urgent matter before the single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya in Court Room Number 5. Moving the petition on behalf of the All India Lawyers Association, the counsel argued that shutting down a major arterial thoroughfare like Red Road for an entire week would trigger unprecedented traffic gridlock across the metropolis. After listening to the initial arguments outlining public inconvenience, Justice Bhattacharyya formally permitted the petition, scheduling a detailed hearing on the matter for Thursday.

The core grievance of the legal association centers on the prolonged duration of the government's traffic restriction. While acknowledging the importance of the international event, the petitioners stated in their plea that a seven-day absolute ban on a vital city route is completely unreasonable, disproportionate, and disruptive to daily commuters. The upcoming detailed judicial review is expected to scrutinize whether the state can trim the closure window to balance public mobility with protocol security requirements.