Calcutta Excessive Court docket Orders MGNREGA Revival In Bengal From August 1, Permits Centre To Resolve Phrases

Final Up to date:June 19, 2025, 16:16 IST

With the resumption of MGNREGA on the horizon, the scheme is anticipated to grow to be a central subject within the upcoming 2026 state elections

In a big improvement, the Calcutta Excessive Court docket on Wednesday directed the resumption of the Mahatma Gandhi Nationwide Rural Employment Assure Act (MGNREGA) scheme in West Bengal from August 1. The courtroom, nevertheless, allowed the Centre to impose particular circumstances and restrictions in view of alleged monetary irregularities within the disbursement of central funds.

The directive, which was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), got here after a sequence of hearings on a petition filed final 12 months by the Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity, a farmers’ organisation, which had challenged the Union authorities’s choice to halt funds below the scheme over allegations of embezzlement.

Key Observations from the Court docket

Chief Justice Sivagnanam remarked: “From the start, I’ve stated — out of ten apples, a couple of could also be rotten, however that doesn’t imply the remaining aren’t contemporary. There have to be correct supervision. What occurred previously is completed. However the scheme has remained stalled for almost three years. It have to be restarted. The Centre can’t indefinitely droop it. Contemplate resuming the scheme in July or August. You could impose circumstances, however implementation is important. It’s a longtime proven fact that funds have been misused in 4 districts.”

The division bench famous: “If this scheme is applied, the frequent folks of the state will profit.”

Centre vs Bengal In Court docket

The Centre argued that it doesn’t intend to withhold funds from real employees, however emphasised the necessity to confirm whether or not work was truly accomplished. It additionally demanded that the state return the misused funds it had confiscated.

The Centre insisted on full oversight of the scheme to forestall future corruption and talked about plans to determine a nodal workplace for higher monitoring. A report was submitted detailing the place lapses had occurred.

The Bengal authorities, nevertheless, countered that there isn’t a want for a nodal officer as the whole scheme is already managed by means of a web-based portal.

The subsequent listening to within the case shall be after August 15.

Political Reactions

Following the courtroom’s ruling, there was a constructive temper within the corridors of the Bengal administration. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee stated: “We welcome the judgment, however our authorities will assessment it. First, we’ll demand the arrears (central funds) which have been pending for over 4 years. Beneficiaries who labored ought to be paid in full. When our MPs and MLAs went to Delhi to demand the funds, police circumstances have been filed in opposition to them. Have you ever forgotten that?”

However, the BJP maintained its place that the scheme was halted below Part 27 of the MGNREGA Act attributable to confirmed malpractice by the state authorities.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya tweeted: “In a landmark ruling, the Calcutta Excessive Court docket has ordered the MGNREGA scheme in West Bengal to restart from August 1, 2025 — an enormous blow to the Mamata Banerjee authorities and a large win within the battle in opposition to corruption. The scheme can’t be stored in abeyance indefinitely due to the state’s misuse. Monitoring will now relaxation with the Centre — Mamata Banerjee can now not loot. No retrospective funds — solely real beneficiaries will obtain contemporary entitlements. All recovered rip-off cash will go to the Consolidated Fund of India, not TMC’s coffers. The Act hasn’t been scrapped, so advantages should attain the poor — and the Court docket has ensured that they may.”

“It is a tight slap on TMC’s corruption-ridden governance. The poor of Bengal will now get what’s rightfully theirs. However make no mistake — Mamata Banerjee will do every little thing to stall its implementation as a result of she can’t tolerate a system she can’t manipulate.”

TMC’s Political Capital

The courtroom’s directive is being seen as a serious win for the Mamata Banerjee-led state authorities, particularly after MGNREGA funds had been suspended since 2022. Authorities officers famous that no work had been carried out below the scheme for the previous three years. A senior state official informed News18, “It was the Bengal authorities that paid Rs 3,700 crore to employees who had already accomplished work. Nevertheless, Rs 6,900 crore continues to be pending from the Centre. We hope the method will now transfer ahead.”

The ruling can be being seen as political validation for the Trinamool Congress, which had led a serious motion across the MGNREGA subject. TMC’s Nationwide Basic Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had held a dharna exterior the Bengal Raj Bhavan, and the social gathering’s total MP delegation had travelled to Delhi to press for the discharge of funds.

In keeping with TMC insiders, the social gathering has efficiently created public notion that the central authorities is intentionally making an attempt to dam the state economically. TMC tweeted in celebration of the courtroom’s commentary, reinforcing their declare that this can be a victory for the folks of Bengal.

With the resumption of MGNREGA on the horizon, the scheme is anticipated to grow to be a central subject within the upcoming 2026 state elections. Each the BJP and TMC will seemingly try and leverage the decision to their political benefit — one as a win in opposition to corruption, the opposite as a battle for Bengal’s rights.

Kamalika Sengupta

Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of expertise in overlaying the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has received UNICEF Laadli Awar…Learn Extra

Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of expertise in overlaying the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has received UNICEF Laadli Awar… Learn Extra

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