Calcutta HC questions Centre over 100-Day work scheme suspension in Bengal

The Calcutta High Court has sought a detailed explanation from the Union Ministry of Rural Development regarding the stoppage of the 100-day work scheme (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - MGNREGA) in West Bengal. The division bench led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay Das posed this question during a hearing on Thursday.

The court has instructed the central government to submit a report within three weeks, explaining both the halt in the scheme and the non-payment of pending wages to workers. The move comes after multiple complaints from job card holders and the state government’s repeated protests over the delay in disbursal of funds.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised the issue publicly several times, accusing the Centre of withholding essential funds unfairly. The High Court bench echoed similar concerns, asking why this stoppage is affecting only West Bengal, and emphasized that it is the common people who are suffering due to the ongoing standoff between the two governments.

Earlier, a four-member committee appointed by the court had visited East Burdwan, Hooghly, Malda, and Darjeeling’s GTA region to verify complaints. Nine such complaints regarding non-payment under MGNREGA were received. The court has now directed that legitimate dues be cleared immediately.

Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Ashok Chakravarty admitted that irregularities worth ₹5.37 crore were detected in the scheme’s implementation. Of this, ₹2.39 crore has already been recovered by the state. The court, however, stressed that this does not justify denying rightful payment to thousands of daily wage earners.

The Chief Justice further instructed that the Centre must notify the public on when payments will resume and questioned the state government for not providing unemployment allowance to affected job card holders. The next hearing is scheduled for May 15, and both governments are expected to present comprehensive responses.