SC dismisses Centre’s plea against Calcutta High Court order to resume MNREGS in West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Union government's petition challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing it to restart prospectively the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in West Bengal from August 1, reported Live Law.

The Union rural development ministry had suspended MNREGS funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing widespread irregularities and alleged violations of the scheme's implementation rules by the state government.

West Bengal received Rs 7,507.8 crore in the financial year 2021-'22 under MNREGS but has received no funds in the following three financial years.

On June 18, the High Court directed the Centre to resume implementation of the scheme, stating that the Union and state governments may impose special conditions to prevent irregularities.

Upholding the judgement on Monday, the Supreme Court said: “We are not convinced that the impugned order requires any interference.”

MNREGS was introduced in 2005 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and is aimed at enhancing the livelihood security of households in rural areas. The scheme guarantees 100 days of unskilled work annually for every rural household that wants it, covering all districts in the country.

Funds for the scheme are contributed by the state and the Union government.

In its order, the High Court had said that it was not in dispute that certain irregularities have been pointed out by the Union government in the disbursement of wages under MNREGS.

While the Union government retains the power to investigate the alleged misappropriation of funds, this does not justify an indefinite suspension of the programme, added the bench.

“All these allegations are from before 2022, you do whatever you want, but implement the scheme,” it further said.

Source: Scroll
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