Calcutta High Court permits Dalits entry to temple

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that Dalits must be allowed entry into a temple in Nadia district, West Bengal. This decision was made on March 21, 2025, amid growing concerns about equal worship rights for the community. This is the second time in a month that authorities in West Bengal have stepped in to address this issue. The court's order, issued by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, comes before the Gajon festival, a significant event for many Hindus in eastern India. Due to fears of potential clashes, the district judge in Nadia will closely monitor the temple situation. Local upper castes had previously protested against Dalits entering the temple, leading to legal action. The judge has instructed local police to provide regular updates on the situation. They will report every three days to monitor any disputes. If problems arise, the judge can request more police presence to prevent violence during the festival. Earlier in March, a similar incident occurred in Purba Bardhaman. Police helped five Dalit individuals enter a local Shiva temple after years of discrimination. In that case, authorities intervened to avoid violence as upper caste members resisted the change.