Durga Idol Height Issue: Cuttack Puja Committee Challenges Commissionerate of Police Order In HC

Cuttack: The controversy over the height of Goddess Durga idol took a new turn as Balu Bazaar Puja Committee here filed three petitions in Orissa High Court challenging the police commissionerate’s directive.

The committee has filed the contempt of court, review and writ petitions against City Commissionerate of Police decision of not granting permission to any puja committee to construct idols of Goddess Durga exceeding four feet in their puja mandaps.

The Commissioner of Police had contended that on the basis of opinions of experienced Biswakarmas (sculptors) and priests, there was no requirement for Khadidhara ritual to be performed on September 17 as was asserted wrongly by some interveners which led to the passing the High Court order.

Earlier, the High Court refused to intervene on the government’s directive regarding the height of idols at Durga Puja pandals, and left for the police to take a call on the matter. The government had restricted the height of idols to four feet, following which at least 25 puja committees of Cuttack moved the high court.

The high court had asked all the puja committees in Cuttack to inform the police in writing the present status of the construction of the idols and their heights.