Calcutta High Court Calls For CAG's Report On State Govt's ₹85K Grant To Local Clubs For Durga Puja Celebrations

The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to file a report on the State government's grant of Rs 85,000 given to local clubs across West Bengal for Durga Puja celebrations.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Bivas Pattanayak declined any interim relief to the petitioner while observing that the question of the merits of the grant had been settled earlier, and that at this stage only a report can be called for by the CAG on the utilisation of the fund.

"Going by the amount of funds needed [to organise puja], Rs 85,000 will hardly be sufficient. What needs to be seen is how these funds are utilised. The committees are accountable and the nature of expenditure must be made clear. Therefore the State should respond with a report from the CAG. It was submitted that none of the committees have accounted for the expenditure. Let the appropriate authority file an affidavit."

The Court also expressed that while the grant was for the laudable purpose of encouraging Durga puja, which was a UNESCO-recognised cultural event, there were various other priorities which the State government had been overlooking.

It was stated that those who were suffering from disabilities such as muscular dystrophy were only being given Rs 1,000 per month as assistance while clubs were being granted Rs 85,000.

It was further observed by the court that the PWD workers who were engaged on the High Court premises were not being paid minimum wages, and had written to the Chief Justice complaining about the same.

In making these observations, the Court noted that while the question on whether or not the grant could be given was settled, the only avenue left was to ensure that the fund was being utilised for the purpose it was being given.

Case No: WPA/7912/2020

Case: SOURAV DUTTA VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS