HC Asks Army For Maidan Report

HC Asks Army For Maidan Report 10 Feb 2009, 0336 hrs IST, TNN Text: KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court on Monday wanted to know from the army the extent of the damage caused to the Maidan during Left Front's rally on Sunday and the one by CPM's youth wing, DYFI, on December 20 last year. This, while taking cognizance of an appeal filed by environment activist Subhas Datta on the violation of the court directive towards protecting the greenery. Holding that it is prima facie convinced that the court's orders had been violated, the division Bench of Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice R N Bandyopadhyay sought to know from DYFI president Pratim Ghosh why his organization's right to hold rallies on the Maidan should not be curbed. He will have to reply within four weeks. Datta's petition against damage to the Maidan caused during the DYFI's December rally was already pending before the division Bench. On Monday, Datta approached the court with photographs published in various newspapers, showing evidence of garbage strewn on the Brigade Parade Grounds, and how the Maidan was dug up on Sunday for makeshift ovens. The court, in its earlier orders, had prohibited digging up of the Maidan and also made it clear that no open fires could be lit within a three-kilometre radius of Victoria Memorial. Expressing displeasure with the manner in which the court's directions were being regularly flouted, the court added the army the custodians of the Maidan as a party to the matter. The army will have to file a report in court stating the extent of damage. Datta was directed to file an affidavit, signed by photojournalists whose published photographs he had submitted in court. Datta also submitted to the court that police had failed in their duty to prevent violation of the court's orders regarding protection of the Maidan from environmental degradation. "The army is the custodian of the Maidan. In the past, they have been called in to maintain law and order in Kolkata. I pray that the army should also be involved in maintaining law and order at the Maidan, along with police, during such rallies," Datta said. The court asked him to file a separate affidavit on the issue. The court, from time to time, has passed orders forbidding activities on the Maidan that result in environmental degradation. It has forbidden fairs on the greenery and the setting up of any structure either temporary or permanent there. It has also made it clear that any event on the Maidan can be held only after permission has been granted by the army and other authorities. While fairs have moved out of the Maidan, political rallies continue to be held there. Before such rallies, organizers give an undertaking to the army that the Maidan would be restored to its former state after the rally.

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