By Calcutta High Court Declines to Halt Foundation-Stone Ceremony for ‘Babri-Style’ Mosque in Murshidabad
The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to stop the foundation-stone laying ceremony for a proposed mosque in Murshidabad, West Bengal, which is allegedly modelled on the Babri Masjid demolished in Ayodhya in 1992.
The ceremony, scheduled for December 6, was announced by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, who had earlier proposed constructing a ‘Babri-style’ mosque at Beldanga. Kabir was suspended by the Trinamool Congress on December 4, with the party distancing itself from his remarks and the planned event.
A petition filed by Dr. Abdus Salam Shaikh sought to halt the ceremony, citing concerns over potential disturbance to communal harmony. However, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen declined to intervene and closed the petition.
The Court noted that the petitioner’s grievance related primarily to law-and-order concerns and the protection of citizens. During the hearing, Advocate General Kishore Datta assured the Bench that the State administration was fully alert and would maintain strict law and order.
Recording the assurance, the Bench disposed of the plea, observing:
“The State must act as per its stand and the law and order situation shall be maintained in Murshidabad strictly and the lives and properties of the citizens will be protected.”
The petitioner had earlier written to the Superintendent of Police on November 30, warning of possible unrest during the event. His counsel argued that preventive measures were necessary.
The Centre’s counsel also informed the Court that 19 companies of central armed forces were already deployed in Murshidabad as per prior court directions.
In view of these assurances, the Court declined to pass any order stopping the event.
