Just two days ahead of the festivities, a crucial legal petition reached the Calcutta High Court concerning permission to perform Chhath Puja at the Sagardighi Ghat in Cooch Behar on November 15 and 16. The petitioners had approached the judiciary seeking formal clearance for the rituals at the location. During the proceedings, Justice Krishna Rao took note of the existing regulations set by the National Green Tribunal, which strictly prohibits the use and immersion of non-biodegradable materials in any water bodies to protect environmental health. Despite these standing ecological concerns, the court delivered its directive allowing the use of the reservoir under specific conditions and safeguards.
Arguments Presented by Both Parties
During the court session, diverse submissions were made by the competing sides. The petitioners firmly assured the bench that they would strictly comply with all ecological instructions, avoid any non-biodegradable substances, and personally guarantee the comprehensive cleaning of the riverbank once the religious observances concluded. Conversely, the opposing respondents argued that the organizers could easily shift their rituals to an alternate venue. However, the petitioners strongly contested this proposal, explaining that moving to a distant location at the eleventh hour would cause immense hardship and inconvenience to the participating devotees.
Weighing Urgency Against Environmental Compliance
After carefully evaluating the arguments, the bench treated the matter as a special case, acknowledging the exceptionally short window remaining before the festival. The court factored in the categorical assurances given by the petitioners regarding cleanliness and waste management, alongside the existing NGT prohibitions. Given the strict constraints of time, the court directed the respondents to make all necessary logistical arrangements at the Sagardighi Ghat for November 15 and 16 while ensuring absolute compliance with environmental norms. Specific instructions were issued to the petitioners warning against the use of plastic items, mandating continuous cleanliness, and demanding proper waste disposal mechanisms around the site.
Future Directives for State Administration
The judicial order explicitly clarified that the temporary permission was being granted solely because the festival was imminent and the state administration lacked sufficient time to arrange alternative sites. Furthermore, the court observed that the organizers had been forced to repeatedly approach the judiciary just to secure permissions for their traditional worship. To prevent such recurrence, the bench instructed the local authorities to proactively make adequate arrangements at the exact same location for future editions of the festival, ensuring citizens would not need to approach the courts year after year for routine clearances.
