The Supreme Court on October 12 refused to stay the West Bengal government’s order of granting Rs 10,000 each to various Durga Puja committees for celebrations.
A SC bench headed by Justice Madan Bhinmrao Lokur and comprising Justice Deepak Gupta issued a notice to the West Bengal government and sought a detailed affidavit within a time frame of six weeks.
State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that her government will provide Rs 10,000 each to the Puja Committees under the “community development programme.”
CM Banerjee in September had announced a grant of Rs 28 crores to 28,000 puja committees across the state for the Durga Puja festival.
In Kolkata alone there are 3000 Durga Puja committees and 25000 committees across the state.
The CM also announced that puja committees need not to pay the fee to the fire department to obtain a license.
Durga Puja is one of the major festivals of West Bengal and it will begin on October 15.
