Supreme Court Verdict Shields Bengal's Job Guarantee: A Triumph Over 'Outsider Zamindars'

The Supreme Court upheld the implementation of the 100-day job guarantee scheme in West Bengal, dismissing the Central Government's plea against the Calcutta High Court order. Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee celebrated the verdict as a victory against what he terms as 'outsider anti-Bengal zamindars,' critiquing BJP for their previous actions.

The Supreme Court has paved the way for the resumption of West Bengal's 100-day job guarantee scheme from August 1, 2025, by dismissing the plea filed against a Calcutta High Court order. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee hailed this decision as a democratic victory against those he described as 'outsider zamindars.'

While Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta upheld the high court's decision, they emphasized the government's power to impose special conditions to ensure proper implementation. The scheme's resumption aims to correct a three-year abeyance, ensuring jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Banerjee condemned the BJP's alleged 'economic blockade' against Bengal. He vowed to fight for due wages, asserting that they symbolize justice for the state's poor. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien criticized the deprivation imposed by the Centre, emphasizing the Supreme Court's acknowledgment of Bengal's plight.

(With inputs from agencies.)