The Calcutta High Court has permitted the BJP to hold a procession with up to 1,000 supporters on July 26 to the office of private power utility CESC in Esplanade to protest the alleged increase in electricity bills.
The court stipulated that the demonstration must adhere to noise pollution regulations and not cause any inconvenience to the public.
The procession, which will move from the BJP office at Muralidhar Sen Lane to Victoria House at Esplanade, is to be held between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm.
The petitioner’s counsel noted that the police had not yet granted permission for the rally regarding the alleged electricity bill increase, and requested the court to direct the police authorities to permit the rally and demonstration. The initial request was for a rally on July 22, but the court allowed it to take place on July 26 instead.
The West Bengal government’s counsel argued that there has been no hike in electricity charges by CESC, rendering the demonstration unnecessary. He also contended that holding the rally on July 22 would cause undue inconvenience to the public due to Victoria House’s central location in Kolkata.
