Kolkata High Court allows doctor's protest at Metro Channel with strict conditions

Kolkata High Court approves doctors’ protest at Metro Channel under strict conditions to ensure law and order
Protest stage restricted to 40x23 feet dimensions, 50 feet from Dorina Crossing, and capped at 2,500 participants
Organizers and police must collaborate, submit coordinator names, and resolve traffic issues to avoid public inconvenience

The Kolkata High Court has granted conditional permission for the Joint Platform of Doctors to stage a protest at Metro Channel, Dharmatala, following disputes over police approval. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh laid out detailed directives to ensure that public order is maintained during the protest.

The stage for the protest must be erected 50 feet away from Dorina Crossing and adhere to a maximum size of 40 feet in length and 23 feet in width. A guardrail must be installed behind the stage, and the gathering is restricted to 2,000-2,500 people at any given time. Protest coordinators must maintain communication with the police to address traffic issues and ensure the demonstration does not inconvenience the public.

The petitioners’ advocate, Shamim Ahmed, stated that while other organizations had been allowed to hold demonstrations at the same location, police were blocking the doctors’ protest. Ahmed requested the court’s written approval to proceed with stage construction, claiming the police’s actions were unjustified. Justice Ghosh instructed the state’s counsel to direct police to permit the stage’s construction.

State counsel Amitesh Bandopadhyay raised concerns about potential traffic issues, particularly on December 24 and 26, when the area experiences high footfall due to its location in the city’s central hub. The state suggested alternate venues such as Y Channel or the footpath near the protest site, where smaller gatherings could be accommodated.

The court emphasized that the protest must proceed at Metro Channel as planned, provided all conditions are met. The names of protest coordinators must be shared with the police to facilitate direct communication during emergencies. Both parties are tasked with ensuring that law and order is maintained and that the demonstration causes minimal disruption to public life.

Kolkata High Court allows doctor's protest at Metro Channel with strict conditions

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