Nishka Srinivas Veluvali
Published On: January 25, 2022 at 16:59 IST
The Calcutta High Court on 24 January, 2022, quashed the Petition with regard to the cancellation of the West Bengal Government’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose tableau for the occasion of Republic Day parade in Delhi.
The Bench consisting of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, ruled that, “As the Republic Day celebration is day after tomorrow, thus at this stage no effective direction can be issued. Hence, no case foe interference in the present Writ Petition is made out, which is accordingly dismissed”.
The Petition was filed by Advocate Ramprasad Sarkar seeking a direction from the Court to the Central Government to allow to display the state’s tableau in the Republic Day parade to be held on January 26, 2022.
The Petitioner submitted to the Court that this year marks 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose but the Union Government rejected the West Bengal state’s tableau without citing any concrete reason behind it.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) YJ Dastoor representing the Central Government submitted to the Court that that the Plea should not be considered as the same was filed in opposition to the Rule 20 of the Rules of the High Court at Calcutta with regard to the application under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.
Furthermore, he stated that Petitioner submitted all the facts incorrect in the Affidavit by stating that the facts mentioned were his own knowledge but instead the Petition was on the grounds of the newspaper cuttings.
ASG Dastoor also mentioned that the earlier Governments did not notice Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose but the present Government is displaying Netaji as an icon and recognising his contribution towards the process of the Independence.
ASG inferred that if the state wants then the reasons of rejection will be duly supplied and that the decision of removal of the tableau is proceeded with reference to the existing rules.
The High Court took note of all the arguments, and held the ruling against the Petitioner and dismissed the Petition.