Calcutta HC seeks justification from state government for granting Rs 50,000 to puja committees

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (October 15) asked the state government why it had decided to grant Rs 50,000 to each community Durga Puja committee in the state. The court asked the state if guidelines had been laid down for such expenditures as the puja organisers were being given public money. The judges questioned the government about a blueprint for crowd control during Durga Puja.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (October 15) sought to know from the West Bengal government reasons for allocating ₹50,000 to thousands of puja committees for organising Durga Puja in the State.

Hearing a petition challenging the government’s decision, a Division Bench of justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee asked if financial aid was being given for festivals such as Eid too.

The court asked the state if guidelines had been laid down for such expenditures as the puja organisers were being given public money. The judges questioned the government about a blueprint for crowd control during Durga Puja.
The Calcutta High Court will also hear another petition demanding deferment of Durga Puja celebrations in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continued her spree of virtual inauguration of Durga Pujas during the day. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the government and the Durga Puja clubs are sensitive about the pandemic and have taken adequate steps to ensure that the celebration should not lead to spread of COVID-19 infection.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma visited a number of Durga Puja pandals on Thursday to check the arrangements.