The Calcutta High Court today appointed two special officers to ensure compliance of fire services and municipal rules for BJP national president Amit Shah's November 30 public meeting, observing that the government should not be rigid in the compliance of these rules while granting permission.
Justice Debangshu Basak appointed the director general of state Fire Services and joint commissioner (development) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) as special officers and asked the city police commissioner to depute an appropriate officer to assist them to ensure compliance of rules.
Hearing a petition by the BJP alleging unreasonable denial of permission to hold the rally by KMC and fire services department, Justice Basak observed that this is the first attempt by a political party to comply with fire and municipal body regulations to hold a public meeting and as such they must be given some leeway.
The court observed that regulations like leaving 20 metres open on either side of the stage in front of Victoria House at Esplanade in the heart of the city was not mandatory and asked the officers to take a reasonable call on this.
Disposing the petition, Justice Basak directed the special officers to convene a meeting at 10.30 am tomorrow at the site of the meeting and directed that the petitioners would be represented by two persons only, but may take the help of technicians as necessary.
The West Bengal BJP had moved the court alleging denial by Kolkata Police (KP). The court had then directed the KP commissioner to sit with state BJP leadership to sort out the issue and submit a report on November 20.
