The Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to halt the proposed construction of a mosque in Beldanga, Murshidabad — a structure that its proponent, suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, has publicly stated will be modelled on the historic Babri Masjid.

The court’s observations came just days before the scheduled foundation-laying ceremony on December 6, a date that also marks the anniversary of the demolition of the original Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul heard a public interest litigation seeking a stay on the event, citing fears of communal tension. After hearing submissions, the bench refused to intervene in the proposed construction and instead directed that responsibility for maintaining peace and law and order rested with the West

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