The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday modified its Monday’s order in which it declared Durga Puja pandals as no-entry zones, said a report in The Hindustan Times. It also increased the number of people who would be allowed in the pandal at any given time.

The court had on Monday banned the entry of visitors inside the pandals, thus declaring them as no-entry zones. It also put a cap on the number of committee members who would be allowed inside at any given time.

The HC modified its order after a review petition was filed by several prominent puja organisers in Kolkata.

For big puja pandals, 45 committee members, including local residents, would be allowed to enter the pandal at any given time, as opposed to 15-20 people who were allowed earlier. The committees are required to prepare a list of 60 names in advance.

Also, dhakis (drummers) are now allowed to enter.

In smaller pandals, 10 committee members are now allowed to enter at any given time, for which a list of 15 members needs to be prepared.

The list can be changed every day and has to be prepared by 8 am.

The court in its Monday’s order had banned the entry of visitors into the Durga Puja pandals. This was in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, an order widely hailed by doctors and the state government.