(1) No person shall, without first obtaining in writing the permission of the Collector in the district, or of the Commissioner of Police in Calcutta,—
(a) construct any public religious building, or
(b) convert any private building or public building or private place or public place into a public religious building, or
(c) convert any private religious building or private religious place into a public religious building or public religious place.
Explanation 1.—Any temporary use of a building or place for religious purposes on occasions such as Holi, Muharram or similar other religious festivals, shall not be deemed to be a conversion of such building or place into a public religious building or public religious place.
Explanation 11.—Any permission under this section shall be in addition to the permission or sanction as may be required to be obtained under any law for the time being in force.
Bar to construction or conversion.
Restrictions on use of public place for religious purposes.
Construction etc. of public religious buildings.
187 The West Bengal Religious Buildings and Places Act, 1985.
[West Ben. Act (Section 6.)
(2) Any person required to obtain permission for any construction or conversion under sub-section (1), shall first obtain permission for such construction or conversion from such local authority or officer having jurisdiction over the area as the State Government may, by notification, specify, and shall thereafter apply to the Collector in the district, or to the Commissioner of Police in Calcutta, for permission under subsection (1) in the prescribed manner.
Procedure to be followed by the Collector and the Commissioner of Police.
Power of Collector in the district and Commissioner of Police in Calcutta to direct removal of unauthorised construction or conversion.