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The Calcutta High Court has modified the orders of the High Court dated October 7, 2021 and November 5, 2020 allowing entry of people into a puja pandal which stated that it shall be limited to the maximum number of persons permitted entry into it at any point of time.

A divisional bench of Justice Rajshekhar Mantha and Justice Kesang Doma Bhutia said that "the allowance of moving out with double masks shall not be considered as a license to over-crowd."

The court was hearing an application filed seeking modification in the earlier order passed by the High Court stating that the entry in the pandal shall be unrestricted, provided each visitor is double-vaccinated and wears a mask.

The counsel submitted that the risk of Covid-19 has not reduced yet.

The bench said that, "We are conciously modifying the order dated October 7" which allowed entry subject to the maximum number of persons which is allowed inside a puja-pandal and compliance with other conditions like double-vaccination and wearing of masks, all activities and puja rituals like Anjali, Arati, Sindur Khela etc. are permitted inside the pandal.

The Court has directed that "All pandals will continue to be No-Entry Zones, including an area of five-metre beyond the pandals on all the open sides. Only dhakis will be permitted to occupy the space beyond the pandals and within the five-meter zone thereafter. Except for dhakis, the five-metre zone has to be kept completely free at all times."

"Immersions should be low-key affairs and processions for such purpose will not be permitted," the bench added.

The bench said that the efforts shall be made by the authorities to limit overcrowding during the upcoming Kali Puja, Kartika Puja and Chhath Puja, and awareness shall be created among the public by way of newspapers, social media, etc for making them aware about self-restrictions.

"It is expected that citizens self-impose the above restrictions. Appropriate and wide awareness of the restrictions must be spread by all stakeholders, particularly, the petitioner and the State," the Court said.

Cause Title: Ajay Kumar De vs State of West Bengal