Kolkata, 01 October (H.S.): The controversy surrounding the suspension of prayers at a 50-year-old mosque located near the airport in Dum Dum has reached the Calcutta High Court. Airport authorities had halted the offering of Namaz at the site on July 11, citing severe security risks. A single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao heard the petition seeking permission to resume religious practices on Thursday, though the court refrained from issuing any interim order. Addressing the issue, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari previously clarified the state's stance, asserting that while the government does not hinder anyone from practicing their religion, national security and airport safety must remain the absolute priority.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Kishore Dutta, argued that prayers had been conducted peacefully at the mosque for the past 40 to 50 years. He informed the court that devotees traditionally accessed the site through Gate Number 8 of the airport and claimed that the land in question has not yet been formally acquired by the authorities. Terming the complete ban on prayers as unjust, Dutta questioned why security concerns were suddenly being raised now when no such issues had occurred over the past five decades. He appealed to the court to allow people to enter the mosque under strict security checks and regulated access.

Opposing the plea, airport authority counsel Gopal Mukhopadhyay raised strong objections, stating that the mosque premises were being used not only for prayers but also for holding meetings. Highlighting severe security breaches, he alleged that on several occasions, individuals had trespassed onto the active runway, posing a grave threat to aviation safety. The central government also weighed in, terming the situation a direct matter of national security. After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Krishna Rao resonated with the security concerns and referred to the recent attempted hijacking of a Dubai flight. Noting that aviation security lapses are currently a matter of global concern, the judge declined to grant any immediate relief and scheduled the next hearing for October 7.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh