Plea In Calcutta High Court Challenges Hike In Grant Given By Bengal Govt To 'Clubs' For Durga Puja, Seeks Probe Into Utilisation Of Funds

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Calcutta High Court challenging a hike in annual grants given to 'clubs' in West Bengal for hosting Durga puja celebrations.

These grants have been given by the state government to organisers of Durga puja in their local communities and have steadily been increased from Rs 50,000 at inception to Rs 70,000 last year, and Rs 85,000 proposed to be given this year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already declared that the grant would be enhanced to Rs 1 lakh in 2025.

The plea filed by Sourabh Dutta questions the source of the funds which the government has proposed to disburse to the clubs for this year's annual Durga puja celebrations to be held in October.

The petitioner has also called for an independent audit into the utilisation of the funds granted to clubs in previous years and stated that there cannot be any justification for enhancing the grant every year when the state has refused to pay a dearness allowance to government employees over the last few years.

The plea will be placed for hearing before a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.