In a sharp critique, the Calcutta High Court proposed on Monday that the West Bengal government should consider allotting Rs 10 lakh to each Durga Puja committee, highlighting that the recently increased dole of Rs 85,000 is “meagre” in comparison to the actual expenses of organizing the festivities. The remark was made by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam during a hearing of a petition challenging the state’s financial aid to Durga Puja organizers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced an increase in the dole from last year’s Rs 75,000 to Rs 85,000, which the court found insufficient. Justice Sivagnanam noted that having visited several Durga Puja pandals over the past years, the current amount barely scratches the surface of the costs involved.
The court also addressed broader social issues, contrasting the state’s spending on cultural festivities with its support for vulnerable groups, noting that individuals with muscular dystrophy receive a paltry Rs 1,000. The plight of contract workers, daily wage earners, and badli workers was also highlighted as needing more urgent financial attention.
Additionally, the bench, which includes Justice Bivas Pattanayak, chose not to restrict the state from offering electricity rebates to Puja organisers, recognizing the public purpose in ensuring proper lighting and infrastructure at the pandals.
The hearing also touched upon the accountability of funds already distributed, with petitioner’s lawyer, Nandini Mitra, raising concerns about the lack of expenditure details from various Durga Puja committees. Despite these concerns, the court observed that the cultural significance of the festivities justified the disbursements as a means to uphold the state’s heritage.
The court has requested that the committees provide detailed accounts of how the funds are spent, echoing the need for transparency in the utilization of public money, as previously ordered in 2020 and other directives.
