International Yoga Day: State tells Calcutta HC employees were "requested" to participate to break record

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked the State government to respond to a petition challenging the mandated participation of employees in the International Yoga Day programme on June 21.

Justice Amrita Sinha asked the State counsel to seek instructions and listed the matter for hearing on Friday.

The State Coordination Committee of the West Bengal Government Employees has moved the Court challenging the West Bengal Chief Secretary's order asking all officers and employees of the State government to participate in the International Yoga Day Programme on June 21.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead the national event in Kolkata.

The petitioners have argued that compulsory participation in such programme is against the statutory service rules governing government employees and that the Chief Secretary has no authority to impose such obligation.

Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the petitioners, argued that no rules allow making such participation mandatory for employees.

The Court remarked that the direction did not appear to be mandatory. However, Bhattacharya responded that employees have been ordered to be compulsorily registered by their departments for the event.

Additional Advocate General Billwadal Bhattacharya said that the employees can either participate or not participate. He added that if they face any consequences for non-participation, they can always approach the Court.

The Bench questioned the submission, remarking that the intent of the event was awareness.

"It is a healthy move," the Court said.

When the petitioners' counsel said that it was the decision of employees, the Court said,

"No, you cannot remain unhealthy. Because you are serving the government, the government will never want its employees to be unhealthy."

The counsel responded that the employees are not slaves.

Explaining the reasoning for issuance of an order to the employees, AAG Bhattacharya said that the "request" for their participation was made to create a record on International Yoga Day.

"Last year, Andhra Pradesh created a record of 3 crore participation. West Bengal is trying to create a new record,"Bhattacharya said.

At this, the Court said,

"Don't go in this kind of competition. Nobody knows what is going to happen."

Bhattacharya said that it was a competition for healthy India. He added that he will come back with formal instructions from the State.