In a major victory for the West Bengal government, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Centre’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court order directing the restart of the 100-day rural employment guarantee scheme, MNREGA, in the state after more than three years. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, launched by the UPA government in 2006, aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to all adult members of a household.
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The top court upheld the Calcutta High Court order of June 18, which had directed the Central government to implement MNREGA, which has been stalled since 2022, in West Bengal from August 1. On March 9, 2022, the central government stopped releasing funds under MNREGA in the eastern state, where assembly elections are due next year, alleging corruption. The Calcutta High Court had said in its order that cases related to the period of allegations of corruption in MNREGA should be investigated. However, the Court had also said that MNREGA cannot be closed and directed the Center to start it from August 1.
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On July 22, the Center informed the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session that the Rural Development Ministry is studying the High Court order on restarting MNREGA in West Bengal. Following the Supreme Court order, the Central Government will resume releasing funds under MNREGA. Abhishek Banerjee said, today’s decision is a democratic slap on the face of those who believed that Bengal could be threatened, forced or silenced. The arrogance of the Bharatiya Janata Party has been punished. They want power without accountability. They take money from Bengal, yet refuse to return its dues but now they have lost in the people’s votes and in the Supreme Court.