HC Sets Date for Centre to Resume MGNREGA in Bengal

The court observed that grievances of genuine workers cannotbeignored on accountof administrative or political concerns

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In a major boost to the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the central government to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in West Bengal from 1 August.

The court emphasized that while the Centre is within its rights to impose safeguards or conditions to prevent corruption, it cannot indefinitely halt a public welfare scheme that serves millions.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay delivered the order, stressing that the suspension of the 100-day rural job scheme, ongoing for three years, was unjustified despite allegations of financial irregularities.

The central government, which funds the scheme entirely, suspended MGNREGA funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing large-scale corruption in the implementation of the scheme in West Bengal.