The Calcutta High Court on Monday suggested that the cultural wing of the CPI(M) could set up its bookstalls during Kali Puja instead, while hearing a petition over the denial of permission for temporary stalls during Durga Puja in Naihati and Bongaon in North 24-Parganas.
The petitioners told the court that they had been putting up bookstalls at the two locations during the Durga Puja festivities for the past five decades.
Advocate Shamim Ahmed, representing the petitioners, said the authorities had refused permission this year, citing “a direction from higher authorities”.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, while hearing the plea, questioned whether the petitioners’ long-standing practice gave them an automatic right to set up the stalls. The judge verbally suggested that they could instead organise the bookstalls during Kali Puja, scheduled to take place about a fortnight later.
When the petitioner's lawyer requested the matter be released from his court, Justice Bhattacharyya said he would consider that on Tuesday.
The CPI(M)'s cultural wings set up bookstalls near pandals across West Bengal during Durga Puja.
However, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari triggered a political slugfest last month when he asked Durga Puja committees not to allow CPI(M)'s book stalls near pandals if they use the term 'Sharodotsav' to describe the festivities and diminish the religious character of 'Durga Puja'.