Kolkata, October 5: The Calcutta High Court has stayed West Bengal government's order of donating Rs 10,000 each to 28,000 Durga Pujo committees. The next hearing is scheduled for October 9. The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government announced in September to pay Rs 28 crore to the committees. The decision was challenged in the court last month. According to Times Now, the division bench of the Calcutta High Court questioned the state government’s decision of spending the exchequer money for Durga Pujo celebration.

The court also asked the government whether it gave money to other festivals also. The case was filed on September 19. The bench was comprised of Acting Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta and Justice Sampa Sarkar. The court also asked the state government to file an affidavit answering all the questions. Durga Puja 2018: Oldest Pandal in Kolkata Will be Sponsored by China This Year

On Wednesday, imams in Kolkata came out in streets to stage their protest against the West Bengal government’s decision to give money to Durga Puja committees. The All Bengal Minority Youth Federation, a body comprising Muslim clerics and scholars from all across the state, called for an increase in the stipend of Imams and Muezzins, reported Times Now. At present, the stipend of Muslin Clerics is Rs 25,000

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2018 04:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).