Kolkata, August 10: A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Calcutta High Court on Monday, seeking the withdrawal of a state government order mandating the removal of microphones and loudspeakers from all religious places in West Bengal.
The petition was submitted by Kalyan Banerjee, a Member of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a senior lawyer, on behalf of Danish Farooqui, who is also an attorney.
The petitioner raised concerns regarding the legal restrictions related to the removal of loudspeakers and microphones, particularly from mosques. Banerjee claims that the order to remove loudspeakers and microphones from all mosques was issued following an oral directive from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. According to Banerjee, this has emerged as a new trend in the current administration, where the Chief Minister makes statements that are contradicted by police actions, which are carried out without any official orders.
This petition was presented before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, presided over by Acting Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty. However, a hearing date has yet to be scheduled.
Additionally, another petition was filed in a single bench of the Calcutta High Court before Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, requesting permission for a rally from Rajbazar in North Bengal to Rani Rashmoni Road in Central Bengal. This rally is intended to protest against the order to remove loudspeakers and microphones from mosques.
This second petition was filed by Sabhyasachi Chattopadhyay, a senior leader of the CPI(M), on behalf of Abdul Samad. Justice Bhattacharya may hear this petition soon.
Previously, opposition parties accused the state government of targeting mosques by enforcing the removal of loudspeakers and microphones. However, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari clarified that this order is not limited to mosques but will also apply to temples.
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