HC’s sarcastic remark on WB dole to Durga puja organizers. The Calcutta High Court has suggested. That the West Bengal government increase financial aid to Durga Puja committees from Rs 85,000 to Rs 10 lakh. The court said that the amount was woefully inadequate to stage a puja festival. And asked for an audited report on how such committees used funds.
High Court’s Sarcastic Remark on Durga Puja
In a sharp, sarcastic remark. The Calcutta High Court on Monday said the West Bengal government may consider providing Rs 10 lakh. As a dole to each Durga Puja committee, holding that the current Rs 85,000 seems meagre. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently declared that the dole for Durga Puja organizers. Which at Rs 75,000 in 2023, will be enhance to Rs 85,000 this year.
Concerns Over Fund Usage for Durga Puja
Hearing the petition seeking a stay on the disbursal of dole to Durga Puja organizers by the state. The court ordered the state government to file an affidavit on the petitioner’s prayer for an audited report of the CAG on the disbursal of funds to clubs. And NGOs and the utilization of money by these organizations.
Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam told Advocate General Kishore Dutta, who represented the West Bengal government, that the state should consider giving Rs 10 lakh. To each organizer, that would be commensurate with the expenditure required to conduct the puja. Saying that Rs 85,000 is nothing compared to the cost that has to be borne in celebrating the Durga puja.
The Chief Justice said that he had visited several Durga Puja pandals in the two preceding years and felt that Rs 85,000. A pittance compare to the cost incurre in its organization, and those are probably uses for the costs of the organizers.
Rebate on Electricity Charges
The court also noted that the West Bengal government gives a mere Rs 1,000 to a person suffering from disability owing to muscular dystrophy.
The Chief Justice opined that there are more crucial priorities. Such as contract workers, daily wage earners, and badli (replacement) workers.
He addes that the minimum wages were not paid to the PWD workers depute in the high court.
However, the division bench, which also included Justice Bivas Pattanayak. Did not grant a prayer for an order to the state government restraining. From giving a rebate on electricity charges to the puja organizers. The bench that this may have a public purpose as proper lighting and infrastructural facilities are requires at the pandals.
Broader Issues Addressed by the Court
The court stated that it is of the view that the disbursement of state funds to the puja organizers. May be for a laudable purpose to encourage the committees to set up puja pandals as it is part and parcel of the state’s cultural heritage.
On this count, the bench said the character of expenditure has to be minuted. And submitted to the authorities in the light of an earlier order of September 2022 and other earlier orders on the issue.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Nandini Mitra, submitted that it was alarming that various Durga Puja committees. On the dole provided by the West Bengal government were not providing accounts of expenditures.
Mitra further says that the expenditure accounts were never submit. And the funds were still being releases to clubs for offering financial support in arranging Durga Puja every year. ”
The petitioner’s counsel argued that earlier, the high court, on a previous petition relating to the issue. Had disposed of it in October 2020, and the Government also submitted a report on the court’s direction.
On the prayer for setting aside the state government’s decision to disburse funds to clubs on account of the festival and rebate on the cost of electricity, the court noted that disbursal has already occurred.
The 2020 order also ordered CAG to file a detailed report on disbursal and expenditure accounts by the recipients.
FAQs
1. What did the Calcutta High Court say about the financial assistance given to the Durga Puja committees?
In a sarcastic tone, the court suggested that the financial aid be enhanced from Rs 85,000 to Rs 10 lakh.
2. How much financial assistance does the West Bengal government provide to the Durga Puja committees at present?
Recently, the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, increased the aid from Rs 75,000 to Rs 85,000.
3. Why did the High Court think that Rs 85,000 was too small of an amount?
The High Court felt that Rs 85,000 is a comparatively less amount against the actual expenses for conducting a Durga Puja festival.
4. What did the High Court want while permitting the expenditure from the fund?
The High Court wanted the expenditure to be made according to the proper disbursal of the fund.
5. In the course of the arguments, did the High Court recognize any other significant issues?
Yes, precisely, the Chief Justice referred to a few more immediate considerations like assistance for disabled and minimum wages for labor.
6. What was the contention of the petitioner regarding the financial assistance to Durga Puja committees?
The contention of the petitioner was that most committees were not presenting proper account of expenditure for which funds had been released.
7.What judgment of which court had the lawyer of the petitioner been referring to?
The counsel mentioned a 2020 High Court judgment that directed the Government to provide an account of the expenditure of that amount.
8. Has the court stopped the Government from disbursal to the Durga Puja Organizers?
It did not, but it requested proper accounting and auditing of its expenditure.
9. What is the bigger issue being debated by the high court outside the paradigm of the fund required for Durga Puja?
The court had further discussed such issues that included lack of support for people with disabilities and unpaid wages to workers with disabilities.
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