Calcutta High Court on Monday directed central and state governments to file separate affidavits by December 20 on the status of the 100- day rural employment scheme in Bengal.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava issued the order on the basis of a petition filed by the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.

In his petition, Adhikari had alleged that the state government had misused funds allotted by the central government for the MGNREGA.

He said the state government had created hundreds of fake job cards to claim money from the Centre. The BJP leader also demanded an inquiry by any competent agency to know whether the state had been using the MGNREGA funds for the benefit of Trinamul Congress members.

Opposing the petition, a state government counsel alleged that the central government hadn’t allotted funds deliberately.

After hearing the two sides, the division bench sought affidavits from the central and state governments and fixed the matter for hearing on December 20.

While the BJP has accused the state government of financial irregularities under the rural job scheme, chief minister Mamata Banerjee termed the action of not releasing funds as a political vendetta.

Mamata has been demanding funds from the central government and sources said it was crucial as the panchayat polls would be held next year.

The Bengal government has started taking several steps to ensure that no embezzlement is reported in the utilization of the funds under the MGNREGA.