Calcutta High Court Issues Notice On PIL Against Non-Disbursal Of Maternity Benefits Under 'PM Matru Vandana Yojana'

The Calcutta High Court has sought responses from the Union and the State of West Bengal on a Public Interest Litigation alleging large-scale non-disbursal of maternity benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) in the State.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta observed that the petition raised “arguable points” and directed the respondents to file their affidavits in opposition within four weeks.

The Court ordered: “The petition contains arguable points and accordingly, respondents are directed to file their affidavit in opposition within four weeks.”

The matter has been directed to be listed in the second week of April 2026 for consideration on the question of admission and interim relief. The bench also clarified that the issue of maintainability of the PIL will remain open.

Background

The petition has been filed by Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity and others, alleging serious irregularities in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in West Bengal.

According to the plea, parliamentary disclosures made in response to Unstarred Question No. 3544 answered in the Lok Sabha on March 21, 2025 reveal that between FY 2021–22 and FY 2024–25 (up to March 19, 2025), 11,42,672 women were enrolled under PMMVY in West Bengal but only 11,086 women received any payment.

The petitioners further rely on a reply to Unstarred Question No. 1931 dated December 6, 2024 which allegedly discloses that no central funds were released to West Bengal under PMMVY during FY 2023–24 and FY 2024–25, thereby effectively paralysing the scheme in the State.

It is also alleged that the scheme is being illegally restricted to women aged between 18 years 7 months and 55 years, as admitted by the Union Government in response to Unstarred Question No. 3145 dated December 13, 2024, in Parliament.

Before approaching the Court, the petitioners submitted representations to the authorities highlighting these issues. Petitioner No. 2 submitted a representation on November 21, 2025, Petitioner No. 3 on November 19, 2025, and Petitioner No. 4 on November 28, 2025. Petitioner No. 1 also sent a detailed representation on November 26, 2025.

However, the petitioners claim that despite receipt of these representations, the authorities failed to take effective steps to address the grievances, prompting them to move the High Court.

Case: Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity & Ors. VS The Union of India & Ors.

Case No: WPA(P) 59 of 2026