Calcutta HC okays govt's Durga Puja funding but seeks transparency regarding expenditure

KOLKATA: While refusing to interfere with the state's decision to give out Rs 85,000 as Durga Puja grant to each organiser, the Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the state to file an affidavit on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on govt fund disbursal in favour of puja committees in past years.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Bivas Pattanayak remarked that one more zero should be added to the amount to make sure it comes of any use to puja committees, which, according to him, are spending 10 times more than the grant given by the state.
The HC held that the state gives Rs 85,000 to these puja organisers to encourage them to set up pandals and take part in the state's cultural heritage.
It was observed prima facie that such an amount is not sufficient for the purpose intended and it needs to be seen as to how these funds are being utilised.
The CJ-headed bench stated that the puja committees which receive the funds are accountable to the state and the nature of the expenditure needs to be submitted.
However, despite earlier orders, none of the committees have submitted any report nor have they properly accounted for their expenditure.
"For two years, I visited the puja pandals, with Rs 85,000, nothing can be done. Probably the amount is for the office bearers of these clubs," a sarcastic CJ said.
While referring to an earlier hearing of a case on compensation for patients of muscular dystrophy, the CJ told the Advocate General, "We had earlier held that the state is giving Rs 1,000 per month to these patients. Data from other states, like Andhra Pradesh, were also submitted. We refer to this grant of Rs 85,000 per puja. If the govt can do this, they can also give a reasonable amount to persons suffering from rare diseases."
The petitioners also sought an independent inquiry and consequent probe into unaccounted for funds that had been spent.
As for the rebate on electricity, the court held that it is for providing sufficient lighting and infrastructural facilities to the public visiting the pandals and hence, serves "some public good".