The controversy over immersion of Durga idols on Muharram on October 1 refuses to die down even after the Calcutta High Court’s order on Thursday allowing it on all days after September 30.
After a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat on Friday, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya said that permission for immersion on October 1 would be granted as per the “judgment of the State government”.
“At the end of the day, depending on circumstances and situation, permission will be granted, wherever found fit. Whenever there are problems, permission will not be granted,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.
The order, however, clearly does away with a prohibition of idol immersion as imposed by the State government through a notification earlier. “The immersion of idols shall be allowed till 12 midnight.... The aforesaid arrangement shall continue on all days commencing from September 30, 2017,” it read.
After the State government’s interpretation of the order, the petitioners approached the High Court, which stated that the order is clear and there is no scope for any confusion. .
Speaking to journalists, Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Rajiv Kumar said that of the 2600 community Pujas in the city, none of them sought permission to immerse the idols on October 1.