The Calcutta High Court on Monday adjourned till Wednesday hearing of petitions for extension of immersion schedule for Durga puja that has been restricted by West Bengal in view of Muharram.
Three petitions
A division bench, presided by Acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre, took the decision to allow a comprehensive hearing of the three petitions later because there was paucity of time as Justice Mhatre was retiring on Monday.
State Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted before the bench that the government will allow immersion of all Durga idols that reach the designated sites on the banks of rivers and other water bodies till 10 p.m. on Vijaya Dashami at the end of the five-day festival.
The State had on Friday told the court that it has decided to extend the deadline for immersion from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Vijaya Dashami that falls on September 30 and immersion of idols would be allowed again from October 2. No immersion of idols would be allowed on October 1, when Muharram is scheduled to be observed.
Counsel for one of the petitioners Smarajit Roy Chowdhury reiterated his prayer before the court that immersion of idols in rivers and other water bodies in the State be allowed till 1.36 am on Vijaya Dashami in accordance with the ‘Vishuddha Siddhanta’, one of the three almanacs followed by Durga puja organisers in the State.
