The Supreme Court has directed the Krishnanagar district administration to examine Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s allegations that at least 18 development projects funded through her Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) allocation have been stalled. The court said Moitra could approach the Calcutta High Court if the district administration failed to resolve the issue.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymallya Bagchi heard Moitra’s petition on Friday. Her lawyer, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told the court that letters sent to the district administration had not resolved the problems affecting the projects. According to the report, some of the pending works involve the construction and repair of roofs at schools in the Krishnanagar constituency.
Moitra had approached the Supreme Court alleging that she was being prevented from carrying out development works in her Lok Sabha constituency. She has said that at least 18 projects under her MPLADS recommendations remain held up because of administrative obstacles. The projects’ intended beneficiaries, rather than the MP’s individual rights, were central to the court’s concern during the hearing.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the West Bengal government and said the matter was connected to a political dispute. After hearing the state’s position, Justice Bagchi observed that the court was concerned with protecting the interests of the beneficiaries of the development projects. The bench consequently directed the district administration to examine Moitra’s allegations.
MPLADS allows elected members of Parliament to recommend development works in their constituencies, with the projects implemented through the relevant district authorities. In this case, the dispute concerns whether administrative action or inaction has prevented recommended public works from moving forward. The Supreme Court’s direction places the immediate responsibility for examining the allegations on the Krishnanagar district administration.
The hearing also covered Moitra’s complaint about accommodation at the Krishnanagar circuit house. She told the court that after checking into the facility, she was asked to vacate her room at night. The state government issued a directive on September 1 requiring her to inform the administration three to four days before staying at the circuit house.
The Supreme Court modified that arrangement, directing that one day’s advance notice would be sufficient and that the administration must make accommodation available in accordance with the rules. The Chief Justice observed that, as the area’s elected representative, Moitra would receive priority in using the circuit house. The court did not accept the state lawyer’s request to add a condition that a room must be vacant before such priority applied.
The district administration must now examine the allegations concerning the stalled MPLADS projects. If the matter is not resolved administratively, the court said Moitra may seek relief from the Calcutta High Court.
