Calcutta HC Slams Guild for Denying VHP Stall at Book Fair

Calcutta HC criticizes Guild for denying VHP a stall at Kolkata Book Fair, orders space allocation, questioning rule changes and alleged book sensitivity.

on Mar 24, 2025

Calcutta HC Slams Guild for Denying VHP Stall at Book Fair

The Calcutta High Court on Friday severely criticized the Publishers and Booksellers Guild for refusing to permit Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to have a stall at the forthcoming 48th International Kolkata Book Fair.

The book fair will be organized from January 28 to February 9.

Justice Amrita Sinha stated that VHP could be provided an opportunity to open a book stall at the fair and asked why the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organizers of the fair, had not done so this year.

The VHP had requested the organizer's permission to stage a book stall at the book fair. The organization, though, did not receive permission since the Guild stated that the process was not followed through adequately because rules were changed this year.

The lawyer of the Guild asserted in court that the VHP brings out 'sensitive' books and that the organization lacked any publishing house. However, the lawyer of the VHP asserted that Vishwa Hindu Barta is their organization and had been installing stalls at the book fair since 2011.

In the hearing, Justice Sinha said to Guild, "Permission has been granted to that organization for the last few years. Why won't permission be granted now? Why didn't they inform us beforehand what sensitive books they have brought out? They haven't brought out sensitive books for so long, and now they are bringing out sensitive books?"

The lawyer for the Guild added that certain regulations had been modified at the book fair this time, and therefore, the permission was not granted.

Justice Sinha countered, "You don't have any statutory rules, the changed rules. Why did you allow so many years? You are making your own rules as and when you wish."

She directed the Guild to make room for the VHP to have a book stall at the fair and asked for a follow-up on the same in the following hearing on January 20 (Monday).