Bengal govt extends Durga immersion time on Vijaya Dashami, Calcutta High Court seeks more

During the hearing of a writ petition, filed challenging the Mamata government's curb on Durga idol immersion for Muharram celebration, at the Calcutta High Court on Friday, Advocate General of the state, Kishore Dutta, said that the government has extended the immersion deadline till 10 pm on Vijaya Dashami.

"West Bengal government has already announced to extend the deadline of Durga idol immersion till 10 pm. on Vijaya Dashami (Sep 30), which was earlier set till 6 pm," Advocate General told the bench of Calcutta HC's acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre.

"To maintain law and order in the state, government has declared that there will be no Durga idol immersion on Ekadoshi (Oct 1) as Muharram is scheduled to be observed on the same day," he added.

Petitioners, however, sought more extension in the deadline of Durga idol immersion.

Petitioner advocated Smarajit Roy Chowdhury said, "According to Bisuddha Siddhanta Panjika, we can immerse goddess Durga till 1:26 am. on Vijaya Dashami."

"So, the deadline of Durga idol immersion should be extended till 1:26 am. on Vijaya Dashami," he added.

However, acting CJ of Calcutta HC, Nishita Mahtre, directed the state to look into the matter and inform the court on the next hearing if the government can extend immersion deadline till 1:26 am. on Vijaya Dashami and allow Durga idol immersion on Ekadashi, Oct 1.

The court has set Monday (Sep 18) as the next date of hearing in the case.  

Meanwhile, another petition on the same issue, filed by Youth Bar Association of India (YBAI), is likely to be heard in the same court on Wednesday (Sep 20).

Earlier on Aug 23, after holding a meeting with Durga puja organizers in Kolkata, CM Mamata Banerjee declared a curb on Durga idol immersion on Bijoya Dashami, Sep 30, after 6 pm. and on Ekadashi (Oct 1) whole day for Muharram processions.

Last year, the state government put same restrictions on Durga idol immersion for Muhharam and few puja organizers moved to Calcutta High Court against the decision.

The High Court slammed state government for the announcement and granted additional time to the petitioners for idol immersion.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Zone Bench of National Green Tribunal on Friday said that the Durga puja of Kolkata's Chetla Agrani club is under its scanner as the club is using mahogany to make its pandal and idol.

"Chetla Agrani club in Kolkata is using mahogany to make its Durga idol and pandal and we are tracking the source of the huge mahogany woods," a counsel of National Green Tribunal's Eastern Zone Bench told IBNS.

West Bengal minister Firhad Bobby Hakim is the president of Chetla Agrani club.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)