The high court on Thursday directed police in North 24-Parganas not to

allow a congregation on the birth anniversary of Matua patriarch Sri Harichand Thakur next week at Thakurnagar, in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Delivering his directive in response to a petition seeking permission to organise the congregation at Thakurnagar between March 20 and March 27, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya of Calcutta High Court told the police not to allow the “entry” of any person to the venue.

As former Trinamul MP and All-India Matua Mahasangha chief Mamatabala Thakur had decided to suspend this year’s fair as a precautionary measure in the wake of the Covid-19 threat, some members of the rival faction had moved court. The district administration had allowed the Mamatabala faction of the Sangha to organise the fair.

Welcoming the order, Mamatabala said: “The court has rightly decided not to allow a congregation. A huge congregation could have put the devotees in danger.” Every year, lakhs of devotees attend the Baruni festival.

The petition had been filed by Sukhendranath Roy, a close aide of BJP MP and All-India Matua Mahasangha chief Santanu Thakur.

Mamatabala’s original petition seeking authority to organise the fair, however, could not be heard. The case will be heard again on April 22.

Earlier in the day, three members of the All-India Matua Mahasangha wanted to file a fresh petition seeking permission to allow “holy dip” in a pond adjacent to the congregation venue. The court did not allow them to file the plea.

Nagarik Sachetan Manch member, advocate Litan Maitra, who filed a fresh petition on Tuesday demanding a ban on such a congregation, said: “The whole world is reeling from a Covid-19 threat. The congregation could have landed people in serious risk.”