The Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, has filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court requesting permission to conduct its annual Martyrs’ Day rally on 21 July. The party intends to hold the gathering at Victoria House, a location situated in central Kolkata that has traditionally been used for the commemorative event.
According to the petition, the Kolkata Police refused to grant permission for the proposed venue, citing unspecified concerns. The refusal prompted the party to seek judicial intervention to obtain the necessary authorisation to proceed with the rally.
The matter was brought before the court on a Monday hearing. Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who is also a member of parliament representing the Trinamool Congress, appeared on behalf of the party and drew the court’s attention to the police’s denial of permission. He urged the court to consider the party’s request and to pass appropriate directions.
The petition seeks a direction from the Calcutta High Court to the Kolkata Police to grant permission for the rally to be held at Victoria House on the stipulated date. The relief prayed for includes an order permitting the assembly and any ancillary permissions required for the smooth conduct of the event.
The case is presently pending before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya. The court has issued notice to the Kolkata Police seeking its response to the petition. Further proceedings will depend on the police’s reply and any additional submissions made by the petitioners.
The outcome of the petition will determine whether the Trinamool Congress is able to hold its Martyrs’ Day rally at the chosen venue. The decision will also have a bearing on how similar requests for permission to hold public gatherings are treated by the authorities in the future.