The controversy over the CPI(M)’s attempts to set up book stalls during Durga Puja has reached the Calcutta High Court, with Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioning the state government’s decision to deny permission to the Left party while allowing other stalls to operate at the same location.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the court asked the state government whether all other stalls along Bongaon-Jessore Road had obtained the necessary permissions from the Public Works Department (PWD).

The court directed the Inspector-in-Charge of Bongaon Police Station in North 24 Parganas to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on Thursday, detailing how many stalls were operating at the location with the requisite approvals.

Court questions selective enforcement of rules

The CPI(M) moved the High Court after members of the Hindu Jagaran Manch allegedly prevented party workers from setting up their traditional Durga Puja book stall along Bongaon-Jessore Road.

Representing the state government, the Advocate General and Additional Advocate General argued that the CPI(M) had failed to follow the prescribed procedure for obtaining permission.
They submitted that the land belonged to the PWD and that the party should have approached the Bongaon Sub-Divisional Officer and the department concerned before attempting to establish the stall.

However, Justice Bhattacharyya questioned why a party that had reportedly been organising book stalls for six decades was suddenly being prevented from continuing the practice.
The judge asked whether hundreds of other temporary stalls operating during the festive season had secured similar clearances.

Drawing a comparison with ordinary roadside vendors, the court observed that a balloon seller might be allowed to operate without facing objections, while a political party’s book stall was being subjected to stringent scrutiny.

The judge also questioned whether setting up a book stall should require such an elaborate approval process, remarking that it was not a lottery shop.

CPI(M) alleges obstruction by Hindu Jagaran Manch

Appearing for the CPI(M), advocate Shamim Ahmed alleged that members of the Hindu Jagaran Manch had physically obstructed party workers when they attempted to set up the stall on October 6.

He further claimed that the organisation had been permitted to establish its own stall directly in front of the CPI(M)’s local party office, creating difficulties for party workers entering and leaving the premises.

Ahmed told the court that the CPI(M) had approached the police and other authorities seeking intervention, but its efforts had failed to resolve the dispute.

The state government, however, maintained that the police could not grant permission for a stall on PWD land without the necessary administrative clearance.

The Advocate General informed the court that two FIRs had already been registered in connection with the confrontation between the rival groups.

Police asked to submit report on other stalls

Unconvinced by the state’s explanation, Justice Bhattacharyya sought clarification on whether the permission requirements were being applied uniformly.

The court directed the Bongaon Police Station’s Inspector-in-Charge to examine the stalls operating along the disputed stretch and report how many had obtained PWD approval.

The judge also directed the CPI(M) petitioner to file an affidavit setting out its position.
The matter is expected to come up again on Thursday after the police submit their findings.

Book stall row deepens political battle over Durga Puja

The legal dispute comes against the backdrop of a widening political confrontation between the BJP and the CPI(M) over the presence of Left-affiliated book stalls during Bengal’s biggest festival.

The controversy intensified following Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s statement in the state Assembly on September 10 that stalls operating during Durga Puja should explicitly use the name of the festival rather than the term Sharadotsav, meaning Autumn Festival.

The Chief Minister’s remarks triggered sharp criticism from the Left, which has traditionally used Durga Puja book stalls to distribute political literature, promote publications and engage with readers.

CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty challenged the Chief Minister’s position, arguing that the dispute was not fundamentally about whether the festival should be called Durga Puja or Sharadotsav.

According to Chakraborty, the underlying issue was the space for books, independent thought and intellectual freedom.

From festive tradition to political flashpoint

For decades, book stalls organised by Left parties have been a familiar feature of Durga Puja celebrations across West Bengal. Beyond selling books, these stalls have served as platforms for political discussion, ideological outreach and interaction with the public.

The latest confrontation in Bongaon has brought that longstanding tradition into direct conflict with competing political and cultural organisations.

The High Court’s intervention has now shifted the focus from the political dispute to a broader administrative question: whether the rules governing temporary stalls during Durga Puja are being enforced equally, irrespective of the political affiliations of their organisers.

The police report sought by the court could prove crucial in determining whether the CPI(M) was denied permission solely for failing to comply with statutory requirements or whether other organisations were allowed to operate despite similar procedural shortcomings.

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