The bench headed by Justice Kaushik Chanda refused to grant relief on a plea against the display of shoes in the pooja pandal of one area known as Dum Dum Park, Bharat Chakra Club.
The petitioner named Santanu Singha alleged that the display of shoes in the pandal hurts his religious sentiment as according to him it is a total disrespect shown to the Goddess Durga.
The petitioner also pleaded that he did not visit the pandal but he came to know about this through social media handling. However, the religious sentiment of the people of West Bengal is being hurt.
To this, the counsel on behalf of the state and other respondents objected and submitted that mere display of the image on social media account cannot hurt any religious sentiment. They also submitted before the court that the shoes which were displayed on the image were a mere representation of farmer protest, furthermore, it is only in the thematic part of the relevant pandal.
He further submitted that they have maintained 11 feet distance between the Goddess Durga and the pandal’s thematic part. Further, it was being submitted before the court the said court was already being registered by the Lake Town Police Station under the various provision of IPC such as Sections 153A/506/34 of IPC.
After hearing the matter the court is not inclined to grant interim relief to the petitioner as removal of shows will amount to grant final relief. However, the court listed the matter on 25th October 2021 and also asked for the report of investigation done by the Lake Town Police Station.
