Kolkata— West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent decision to increase the annual state grant to community Durga Puja committees is set to face legal scrutiny in the Calcutta High Court.
Earlier this week, the Chief Minister announced that the state government’s grant would rise from ₹85,000 to ₹1.10 lakh per Durga Puja committee for 2025. The increase is expected to push the total expenditure under this scheme to between ₹473 crore and ₹495 crore, depending on the number of eligible committees—up from last year’s ₹365.5 crore.
In addition to the direct payout, the government is also offering an 80% electricity subsidy to participating Puja committees, adding to the overall financial burden on the state exchequer.
Legal Challenges Brewing
Senior advocate and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya announced on Saturday that he would be filing a petition in the Calcutta High Court next week, challenging the decision. However, he expressed concerns that the court may enter its Puja vacation before a final hearing is completed.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP has already approached the Calcutta High Court with a similar petition, referencing an earlier legal challenge filed in 2020 over the same issue. That petition was admitted by the court at the time.
Link to Pending Supreme Court Case
The issue could also surface in a separate contempt-of-court case currently being pursued in the Supreme Court. Petitioners, representing current and retired state government employees, have accused the state of failing to comply with the Court’s directive to pay 25% of outstanding Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears by June 30. Legal experts suggest that the government’s expenditure on Durga Puja grants may be cited in court to argue fiscal mismanagement or misplaced priorities.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI(M), have criticized the increased grants, questioning the government’s priorities amid pending financial obligations to employees.
Legal proceedings in the High Court are expected to begin in the coming week. (Source: IANS)
