Kolkata, August 7:
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused to impose a ban on the upcoming “Nabanna Avijan” protest march, scheduled for August 9, led by the parents of the junior woman doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College last year. The march marks the first anniversary of the incident, which sparked outrage across the state.
A division bench comprising Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das De heard the plea seeking a stay on the march. After reserving the order earlier in the day, the bench later ruled that the right to peaceful assembly is a sacrosanct constitutional right and cannot be denied. Accordingly, the court declined to restrain the victim’s family from holding the protest.
The body of the young doctor was found in a seminar hall within the hospital premises on August 9, 2023. In her memory and to seek justice, her parents have called for a march to the State Secretariat (Nabanna), inviting participation from all political parties except the ruling Trinamool Congress. However, they requested that no party flags be carried during the rally.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who has actively supported the victim’s family, accused the West Bengal government of attempting to suppress the protest. He claimed that the state had mobilized its police force to prevent the march and that a high-level police meeting was held to discuss measures.
Adhikari further alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had left Kolkata under the pretext of administrative engagements in Jhargram, fearing the public reaction to the protest.
Despite the tense atmosphere, the High Court’s decision has cleared the way for the protest march to proceed peacefully on August 9.
