SANTANU DE Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The grievance in these petitions as also in CAN 2 of 2022 filed in pending WPA 7912 of 2020 is in respect of the declaration made by the Government of West Bengal for providing a grant of about Rs.60,000.00 each to about 40,092 Puja Committees/Clubs in the State of West Bengal during the Durga Puja, 2022 as also against providing concession, rebate or waiver to the extent of 60% on electricity consumption bill during the said period of Durga Puja to such Puja Committees/Clubs in the State.

(2.) The grievance arose when on 22nd of August, 2022, the State of West Bengal through its Hon'ble Chief Minister had made a declaration in respect of granting the sum of Rs.60,000.00 to such Puja Committees and extending waiver of 60% of the electricity bills to the Puja Committees. During the pendency of the present petitions, Deputy Secretary to the Government of West Bengal has issued the order dated 6th of September, 2022 for awarding the grant of Rs.60,000.00 to 40,028 Clubs/Puja Committees or other similar organizations (37,028 under West Bengal Police and 3,000 under Kolkata Police). The order discloses administrative approval and financial sanction of a sum of Rs.240,16,80,000.00 in this regard.

(3.) The grievance of the petitioner is that the public money is sought to be distributed in this manner ignoring the larger public interest when the State is going through financial crunch.