On Monday, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, instructed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit regarding the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on its annual donations to community Durga Puja committees. This year, the state allocated Rs 85,000 to each committee, a figure the Chief Justice deemed “negligible” compared to the overall expenditure of these events in Kolkata.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning these donations, Justice Sivagnanam expressed concern that such a minimal amount could be better utilized to assist club members or address broader community needs. He highlighted that the government could consider redirecting funds to help those suffering from various hardships, given the relatively small percentage of expenditure represented by the donation.
The Mamata Banerjee-led government has faced ongoing criticism regarding this financial practice, particularly amidst ongoing debates over dearness allowances for state employees, who have been denied equal benefits compared to their central government counterparts.
In a notable response, several puja committees have opted to refuse the state donation this year, protesting against the recent tragic incident involving a junior doctor. In reaction, the Chief Minister announced that funds from the non-accepting clubs would be allocated to new applicants. Following the court’s directive, the state government is now expected to provide clarity on the CAG’s review of its donation practices.