HC directs to immediately stop Book fair works

Kolkata, Jan 25 (UNI) The 32nd Calcutta Book Fair became uncertain with High Court ruling to stop the work on the ground immediately.

A two-judge bench headed by acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya directed to stop the work immediately till further order.

The HC had passed an interim order on a PIL filed a week ago by a lawyer Sabyasachi Roy Chowdhary challenging the Army's permission to hold book fair on the sprawling Brigade parade ground despite strong opposition from the environment activists.

Resuming the hearing this morning, the bench gave a patient hearing to the arguement of the petitioner counsel Arunabha Ghosh and Kalyan Banerjee and fixed the date of hearing on next Monday.

Talking to reporters after the hearing Mr Ghosh said, '' The fate of the book fair is likely to be decided on Monday when the Court will spell out the verdict.'' The HC had passed an order in 2005 banning to conduct fair beside the Victoria Memorial on the grounds of pollution, which had threatened the existence of this historical monument.

The court also observed that the ground, which is the lungs of the city, should be spared from organising any fair so as to protect the only green patch in the city.

UNI