This is the second instance where the High Court has intervened and granted worshipping rights to the marginalised community.
The Calcutta High Court has allowed entry for the Dalit community inside a Hindu temple in West Bengal's Nadia district. As per reports, the entry has been allowed due to the upcoming Gajon festival, a Shiva festival celebrated mostly in eastern India.
This is the second instance where the High Court has intervened and granted worshipping rights to the marginalised community.
As reported by The Hindu, the festivities will take place under the watch of the District Judge of Nadia due to a fear of clashes breaking out in the region.
"The learned District Judge, Nadia having its office at Krishnagar will monitor whole of the issues as to whether there is any dispute and difference amongst the group of people who approached this Court,” the order said.
“In case any crisis arises, the learned District Judge, Nadia will direct the Superintendent of Police, Nadia to deploy sufficient number of police personnel, and under those circumstances, the learned District Judge, Nadia will direct the Superintendent of Police, Nadia to personally monitor the issues so that things do not flare up during the festival season,” the order issued by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh added further.
During the hearings, Calcutta HC rapped the police for failing to ensure the safe entry of the community into the temple.
"How are the police behaving? Police can't solve a problem in a manner so that the dominant gets the advantage only. If you say that there is no caste-based problem, then the police should ensure that these people can participate," stated Justice Ghosh in pervious hearings.
As per the petition, the discrimination against the community began in 2024 after some members expressed their intent to become "sanyasis" for the festival. The petition added that the SC members were assaulted and threatened by members of the upper caste communities.