The pandal at New Town Action Area II B
Samity officials claimed they have been in control of the puja since 2019 and also expressed disappointment.
Justice Rao told both sides: “If you are not coming to a solution, how can the court? The judge directed that whoever wins the lottery gets to organise the puja “while maintaining law and order”. We will follow whatever the court decides,” said a senior official.
The HC asked both committees to appear before NKDA’s estate manager and participate in a lottery to decide the fight after they failed to reach an amicable solution in court. In fact, NKDA, after hearing both sides, withdrew the no objection certificate (NOC) granted to the Association. Refusing to entertain the dispute further, Justice Rao went on to order conducting a lottery. The local police were also directed to see that law and order were maintained. “We are yet to get the formal order.
Kolkata: Calcutta HC judge Krishna Rao on Tuesday asked two bickering puja committees in New Town to go for a lottery to decide who would organise this year’s Durga Puja at New Town CC Block. After Justice Rao had stayed the order and asked NKDA to reconsider the issue by hearing both the Samity and Association, NKDA, represented by Additional Advocate General (AAG) Bilwadal Bhattacharyya, on Tuesday submitted, “NKDA has not granted permission to anyone. Also on Tuesday, hearing another petition where two committees had approached the HC over control of a six-year-old puja at New Town Action Area II B, Justice Rao directed NKDA to grant permission to New Town Prakriti Bandhab Samity.