The Court was told that Chattopadhyay had initially applied for permission on October 18, while proposing to carry out a rally on November 28. However, he received an auto-generated email on the next day, rejecting the request.
Thereafter, he once again applied before the Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) to conduct a rally event on November 29. Again, a similar email was sent denying the permission.
After hearing rival submissions, the Court allowed Chattopadhyay’s plea to hold the rally, which is now slated to take place on November 29 at a site where the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) usually holds its annual July 21 rally.
“This Court is unable to appreciate as to why a mechanical computer generated reply in this form is given by the authorities despite the applications having been made within two weeks before the proposed date of the rally. Such two weeks’ notice as a requirement has been confirmed by the official of the State present in Court,” the Court observed.
Source: Barandbench
