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Bengal Govt. proposes restrictions on rallies

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA OCT. 14. The West Bengal Government is giving a final shape to a set of proposals restricting the holding of public meetings and taking out processions in Kolkata. The proposals will be incorporated in a paperbook to be submitted to the Calcutta High Court by November 12 as directed by a Division Bench of the Court which stayed the September 29 order of Justice Amitava Lala restricting rallies on weekdays till further orders.

The proposals include a ban on holding public meetings at all but two sites in the city. An extension of the area where prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr.PC are in force has also been suggested. A final decision will be taken after consultations with the Advocate-General, Balai Roy.

The stay order was given after the High Court's Division Bench heard a State Government appeal against Justice Lala's earlier order. The appeal was moved by Mr. Roy.

The Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, had reiterated the need to draw a fine line between upholding the people's democratic rights and ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to the public during rallies.

He also announced a decision to ban all fairs on the maidan once a new site, proposed as a permanent venue for such events, comes up on the eastern fringes of the city in another two years.

Public rallies will only be permitted at two sites within the confines of the maidan, it is being proposed, according to State Government sources. New areas in the central business district — the city's hub — are to be brought within the purview of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr. PC.

These proposals were first discussed at a high-level meeting of officials of the departments concerned and the police convened by the Chief Minister in June, the sources added.

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