38.6c New Delhi, India, Monday, August 04, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

SC Refuses To Stop West Bengal Governments Funding For Durga Puja Celebrations

By LawStreet News Network      12 October, 2018 12:00 AM      0 Comments
SC Refuses To Stop West Bengal Governments Funding For Durga Puja Celebrations

The Supreme Court on October 12, 2018, has refused to stay the West Bengal Governments decision to grant Rs.10,000 each to around 28,000 Durga puja celebration committees in the state.

A Bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta, however, issued a notice to the West Bengal Government on a plea filed by two residents of the State challenging the Mamata Banerjee government's decision.

The matter came up before the apex court after the Calcutta High Court had refused to interfere with the Mamta Banerjee governments decision to provide grant for Durga Puja celebrations.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that there is no guideline for spending of Rs. 28 crores earmarked by the government for Puja celebrations. The Governments decision was challenged in the Calcutta High Court contending that public funding of a religious festival was against the principles of secularism.

Use of tax-payers money for repair/restructuring/construction of any religious place offends the spirit and object of Article 27 of the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India prohibits the state from compelling any person to pay any tax, proceeds of which is to be spent for the promotion of any particular religion or religious denomination. Therefore, the decision of the state relating to grant for organizing Durga Puja is unconstitutional and is liable to be set aside, argued the petitioners before the Calcutta High Court.

The Calcutta High Court Division Bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta and Justice Sampa Sarkar said that the Legislature is the appropriate forum to decide on expenditure by the state government. Stating that the court does not want to interfere in the governments decision to disburse funds to Durga Puja committees at this stage, the Bench, however, said that the court can interfere at a later stage when the scope arises.

The Calcutta High Court decision was challenged before the apex court on the ground that the High Court failed to appreciate that there is no public purpose involved in organizing Durga Puja rather it is religious programme.



Share this article:

User Avatar
About:


Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

sc-sets-aside-order-declaring-man-as-juvenile-on-basis-of-school-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC sets aside order declaring man as juvenile on basis of school certificate [Read Judgment]

SC: School certificate from private school not valid proof of age, sets aside order declaring murder accused as juvenile.

04 August, 2025 11:24 AM
hp-may-vanish-in-thin-air-god-forbid-sc-on-ecological-imbalance-in-himachal-pradesh
Trending Judiciary
‘HP may vanish in thin air, God forbid', SC on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh [Read Order]

SC warns HP may vanish due to ecological imbalance; seeks state’s action plan amid rising disasters, deforestation, and climate change threats.

04 August, 2025 11:31 AM

TOP STORIES

why-so-many-students-dying-by-suicides-sc-asks-iit-kharagpur
Trending Judiciary
Why so many students dying by suicides, SC asks IIT Kharagpur

SC asks IIT Kharagpur why students are dying by suicide; raises concern amid rising campus deaths despite new mental health guidelines.

29 July, 2025 11:51 AM
sc-takes-suo-motu-cognisance-of-dog-bite-incidents
Trending Judiciary
SC takes suo motu cognisance of dog bite incidents

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of rising dog bite cases after 6-year-old girl dies of rabies; terms media report alarming and disturbing.

29 July, 2025 01:38 PM
sc-quashes-fir-against-ace-shuttler-lakshya-sen-others-for-forging-birth-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC quashes FIR against ace Shuttler Lakshya Sen, others for forging birth certificate [Read Judgment]

SC quashes FIR against shuttler Lakshya Sen, says forgery case based on vendetta, lacked merit and abused criminal process.

29 July, 2025 04:20 PM
supreme-court-to-hear-presidential-reference-on-bill-clearance-timelines-from-august-19
Trending Judiciary
Supreme Court to Hear Presidential Reference on Bill Clearance Timelines from August 19

SC to hear Presidential Reference on timelines for Governors & President to clear Bills, from Aug 19 to Sept 10; Kerala & TN oppose maintainability.

29 July, 2025 04:43 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email