Calcutta HC asks Centre to file affidavit on MGNREGA arrears, says no bar on scheme’s implementation

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the Centre to file an affidavit on "the arrears" of the 100-day job scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Act (MGNREGA). However, the court has observed that the Additional Solicitor General has submitted that "there is no impediment in implementing" the scheme.

The Calcutta High Court's division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sujay Paul and Justice Parth Sarathi Sen asked the Centre to file an affidavit on "the benefit of arrears" of the scheme and observed that "we deem it appropriate to grant four-weeks time to the official respondents to file their affidavit-in-opposition."

The Centre had alleged that the funds for the scheme were stopped following massive corruption in the implementation of the scheme. In June, 2025, the Calcutta HC directed the Centre to make payments for the pending MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, acting on a petition filed by Paschimbongo Khet Mojur Samiti, an association of agriculture workers in the state.


"Additional Solicitor General fairly submits that there is no impediment in implementing MGNREGA in prospective effect," the court observed. The HC noted that the matter will be listed after six weeks.

The 100-day's job scheme has approximately remained suspended for nearly three years in Bengal and the Trinamool government has continuously alleged that the Centre withheld funds, which has affected the poor people. Khet Mazdoor Samity, the petitioner in this case, will submit its observation on the Union government's affidavit in another two weeks from the date of filing of the affidavit by the Centre. A division bench of the HC had disapproved the action of the Union government in stopping the MGNREGA benefits.