Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday extended the interim stay on disbursal of Rs 10,000 each to 28,000 Puja committees across the state that was announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last month.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta and Justice Sampa Sarkar also said that it will pass an order on whether the PIL in this regard is maintainable or not on Wednesday.
The state government on Tuesday informed the Calcutta High Court during the hearing that it cannot interfere in a legislative decision on granting funds to Durga Puja committees, after the petitioner claimed that it is a violation of the secular structure of the Constitution.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted before the division bench that the funds are to be used for assisting police under the 'Safe Drive Save Life' traffic safety campaign of the state government and also for sanitation and public safety. He further added that the funds are not for any religious purpose.
He maintained that the funds were allotted following the sanction of the state Finance department and added that it was allocated under a new scheme which will be passed in the next state Budget. The Acting Chief Justice asked whether the court will sit mum while public money is being expended and will interfere only after it has been distributed. Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel Bikash Bhattacharya argued that it is a donation to Puja committees and not for any public purpose.
The court on Friday had passed an interim stay order, directing the state government to put on hold the distribution of funds to Durga Puja committees till Tuesday. The interim stay came after advocate Sourabh Dutta filed a PIL, challenging the programme. It may be mentioned that on September 10, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared that Rs 10,000 would be given to each of the 28,000 Puja committees across the state.