Recently, the single-headed bench of Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya  of Calcutta High Court has given approval to a community worship group to organize Ganesh Puja on a government land in the industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district of West Bengal.

Since 2014, Ganesh Puja has been organized at Chaturanga Maidan, under the jurisdiction of Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA). This year the authority refused permission to the community puja committee. The authority says that this government land can be used only for any state function or Durga Puja.

The organizers approached the bench of Justice Bhattacharya and questioned by submitted that if permission can be given for Durga Puja, then why cannot it be given for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Addressing ADDA's counsel's argument that Durga Puja is a semi-secular festival, hence it is allowed to be held on government land, Justice Bhattacharya asked, "What is your reason for holding that Ganesh Puja Isn't it a semi-secular festival?"

The Court allowed the Community Puja Committee to arrange Ganesh Puja on that land, as per rituals, and also ordered them to return the land to ADDA by September 22.

It is noteworthy that this is the second time in a month, when the government did not give permission to the community puja organizers and later the High Court has given permission. Last month, a bench of Justice Bhattacharya had ordered the New Town Development Authority in North 24 Parganas district to allow a community puja organizer to organize Durga Puja on land owned by the authority.