Kolkata: No punitive or coercive action will be taken against govt employees who do not do yoga on International Day of Yoga; their participation is not mandatory, state govt told Calcutta High Court on Friday.The state coordination committee of the govt employees had approached the single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha, where their lawyer, senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, submitted: “I (employees) do not want to perform yoga at all. It’s not about which place. The govt cannot force me to do something which I don’t want to. This should be optional.”The Additional Advocate General (AAG) Billwadal Bhattacharya submitted that the OSD and under secretary to the state govt on June 18 sent instructions stating, “The order of June 14 is a general appeal to all public servants to participate in the official function. This order is not mandatory in nature, and no punitive or coercive action was either contemplated or incorporated in the order in case of failure to attend due to personal reasons.”Considering this, HC dismissed the petition. Justice Sinha remarked: “This litigation was not required.” Replying to this, Bhattacharyya said, “You know the vindictive nature.”The state coordination committee, which moved HC, has 39,000 employees. Their point of contention was the June 14 order whereby all departments were “requested” to register on the Yoga Sangam portal and participate in the yoga day programme.The AAG on Thursday submitted: “It’s a programme by the United Nations General Council. The world is headed by India. It is being headed by Kolkata, which is the epicentre. It’s a message which is being conveyed that the govt is concerned about the health and welfare of the citizens.”In another petition before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Thursday, an advocates’ association had moved the court against closure of Red Road for vehicular movements from June 14 to June 21. The HC directed the police authorities to provide alternativee routes for these association members and city dwellers travelling to Calcutta High Court or surrounding areas. Justice Bhattacharyya questioned the state on why the programme was not being held at the Brigade Parade Ground.
