The Supreme Court has given relief to the state government in the pending dispute regarding MNREGA case in West Bengal. The Central Government had challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, which had directed not to close MNREGA despite allegations of corruption in West Bengal and to re-implement the scheme from August 1. The Supreme Court on Monday (October 27, 2025) rejected the appeal of the Central Government and upheld the decision of the Calcutta High Court.
This case is related to allegations of alleged corruption in MNREGA from three years ago. The Central Government had stopped this scheme in West Bengal on the basis of allegations, while the High Court had made it clear in its order dated June 18, 2025 that corruption should be investigated separately, but the scheme cannot be stopped. The High Court said that the benefits of the scheme should continue to be available to rural citizens and there should be no hindrance in people getting employment due to this.
There should be no impact on the operation of the scheme – High Court
The division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Das, had directed the central government to restart the scheme from August 1. The High Court had also made it clear that the investigation process of corruption can go on, but it should not affect the regular operation of the scheme. The Central Government had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against this order, but the Supreme Court rejected it and gave relief to the State Government.
TMC MP targeted the central government
At the same time, regarding the Supreme Court’s decision, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee posted on social media platform X and said, ‘Another crushing defeat for the anti-Bangla landlords. The Supreme Court rejected the petition of the Central Government, which challenged the order of the Calcutta High Court to restart MNREGA in Bengal. This is a historic victory for the people of Bengal, who refused to bow down to the arrogance and injustice of Delhi.
When they failed to defeat us politically, they weaponized scarcity, he alleged. He imposed an economic blockade on Bengal, took away the wages of the poor and punished the people for standing with Maa, Mati and Manush. But Bengal is not going to bow down. We had promised to fight for every legitimate rupee, every honest laborer and every silent voice. Today’s decision is a democratic slap on the face of those who believed that Bengal could be threatened, coerced or silenced. BJP’s arrogance has been punished. They want power without any accountability.
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