Protect Durga idols at pandals, Odisha HC tells govt

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today directed the state government to provide protection to goddess Durga idols at pandals in the city.

Hearing a petition filed by Balu Bazar, Telenga Bazar and Firingi Bazar puja committees challenging the restriction imposed by the Twin City Commissionerate  Police over the height of the idols for Durga Puja, the High Court today sought a reply from the state government in this regard.

The reply has been sought regarding the capacity of the law enforcement agency to impose such restriction. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled to take place on October 9.

Worth mentioning, the Commissionerate Police had on September 17 issued a directive restricting the height of the idols up to 4 feet. The puja committees had moved the High Court challenging the direction.

The committees in the petition had mentioned that such a directive is legally unacceptable.