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Calcutta HC Orders Centre: Reveal MGNREGA Funds Plan for West Bengal

The Calcutta High Court has directed the Centre to file an affidavit explaining its plan for releasing pending MGNREGA funds to West Bengal. This comes after three years of withheld payments that sparked political battles between Trinamool Congress and BJP. The court had previously ruled that while the Centre could set conditions, it couldn't completely stop payments. The Supreme Court recently upheld this position, refusing to intervene in the matter.

Key Points: Calcutta HC Directs Centre File MGNREGA Funds Affidavit

  • Division Bench gives Centre four weeks to file affidavit on MGNREGA funds
  • Petitioners get two weeks to respond after affidavit submission
  • Funds withheld for three years amid corruption allegations
  • Supreme Court upheld Calcutta HC's earlier order in October
2 min read

Calcutta HC directs Centre to file affidavit on release of MGNREGA funds for West Bengal

Calcutta High Court directs Centre to submit affidavit detailing MGNREGA fund release plan for West Bengal within four weeks amid ongoing payment dispute.

"Union government could set conditions for payment of MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, but could not stop payment on this count - Calcutta High Court"

Kolkata, Nov 7

A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the Centre to file an affidavit detailing how the latter had planned to release the pending funds to the West Bengal government for the 100-day job scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The Division Bench of Calcutta High Court’s Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das De directed the Union government to file the affidavit in the matter within the next four weeks.

As per the direction of the Division Bench, the petitioners in the case accusing the Union Government of deliberately holding back funds under the MGNREGA scheme for West Bengal, will have to make their submissions on the affidavit filed by the Centre two weeks after the date of filing of the affidavit. Thereafter, the next hearing in the matter would be conducted.

To recall, the Union Government had stopped making payments under the MGNREGA scheme for the last three years, following which a political slugfest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP broke out.

The Union government said that the payment of funds was stopped amid massive corruption in the implementation of the scheme. In June this year, the Calcutta High Court directed the Union government to make payments for the pending MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, acting on a petition filed by Paschim Banga Khet Mojur Samiti, an association of agriculture workers in the state.

The Calcutta High Court then observed that if necessary, the Union Government could set conditions for payment of MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, but could not stop payment on this count.

In July this year, the Union Government challenged the order of the Calcutta High Court in the Supreme Court. Last month, the apex court’s Division Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta upheld the Calcutta High Court order and refused to intervene in the matter.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Corruption in MGNREGA implementation is a serious concern, but stopping funds completely punishes the genuine beneficiaries. The court's balanced approach - allowing conditions but not stopping payments - makes sense.
A
Arjun K
Both state and central governments are playing politics with poor people's lives. Instead of blaming each other, they should work together to ensure funds reach the actual workers. This political tug-of-war needs to stop!
S
Sarah B
The Supreme Court upholding Calcutta HC's order shows that the judiciary is protecting constitutional rights. MGNREGA is a legal entitlement, not a favor. Hope the affidavit brings transparency to the process.
M
Michael C
While I support releasing funds, the corruption allegations need serious attention. Maybe this court directive will force both parties to create a better system with accountability. The workers deserve dignity and timely payments.
K
Kavya N
My relatives in rural Bengal have been struggling without MGNREGA payments. They depend on this for basic survival during lean agricultural seasons. Hope this court order brings them some relief soon. 🤞

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