Calcutta HC allows doctors protest to continue at Dorina Crossing, grants permission for 100

The Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court has upheld the Single Bench's decision, granting permission for doctors to continue their protest at Dorina Crossing. The ruling allows up to 100 doctors to remain at the protest site. Justices Harish Tandon and Hiranyamoy Bhattacharya passed the order, permitting the ongoing sit-in organized by medical professionals in West Bengal, which has gained significant attention following the recent bail granted to former principal Sandip Ghosh in a murder-rape case.

The protest, initiated by doctors after Ghosh's bail, has been a point of contention, with the medical community demanding justice in the case. Initially, the doctors sought permission for a sit-in, which was initially denied by the court. Following this, they approached the High Court for approval to continue the demonstration, which was granted by the Division Bench. The court allowed the protestors to remain at the site with the stipulation that the doctors would inform the court if they planned to end the protest on December 25.

The state government, opposing the demonstration, filed an appeal in the Division Bench. The state requested that the protest be limited to December 27 and 28, rather than continuing on December 24 and 25. Kalyan Bandopadhyay, representing the state, criticized the court's order, claiming the reasoning behind granting permission was unclear. He argued that the protest was causing significant disruption, particularly during the busy Christmas period, and raised concerns about potential traffic congestion in the area.

In defense, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, the lawyer for the protesting doctors, emphasized that the protest was being conducted within the boundaries set by the court, including the use of guardrails to prevent disruption. Bhattacharya argued that there were no significant disruptions to pedestrian movement or traffic flow, and the protestors were adhering to the court's conditions. He also pointed out that similar political protests during festive periods had not been questioned or restricted by the state government.

The legal battle over the protest continues as the Calcutta High Court monitors the situation. The doctors' association is expected to inform the court of their decision regarding the continuation or cessation of the protest by December 25. The case has brought to the forefront issues of public order, the right to protest, and the impact of demonstrations on daily life, with both sides continuing to present their arguments in the court.