Calcutta High Court: Durga Puja is more than a religious event, it's a cultural celebration.

The Calcutta High Court has observed that Durga Puja is not only a religious event but has wider secular connotations due to its melting pot of different cultures. This observation was made while hearing a petition from a community Durga Puja organizer seeking permission to organize a puja at a state government-owned land.

The New Town Development Authority denied permission citing Article 25 of the Indian Constitution which does not permit religious events at public places. However, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya rejected the Authority's argument and said that it would be unjustified to identify Durga Puja as just a religious event.

Justice Bhattacharya also pointed out that the denial of permission was not tenable since the plot of land proposed for the Puja does not come under the category of street, footpath or playground. He further stated that every Indian citizen has the right for peaceful assembly without arms and to move freely within the Indian territory, a right that is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.

The counsel for the Puja organiser then argued that the petitioners were willing to pay the requisite fees to the competent authority for organizing the puja. After hearing the arguments from all sides, the bench ultimately permitted the petitioners to organize the puja at the fairground.

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has recently increased the grant to Durga Puja Committees to ₹70,000. This move is likely to help the Puja Committees to organize the Puja more effectively and without any financial hiccups.

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