Industrialists Challenge Bengal’s Incentive Revocation in High Court
Kolkata: In a bold move, a group of industrialists has turned to the Calcutta High Court to fight the West Bengal government’s decision to scrap long-standing industry incentives. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called this step "inevitable" and slammed the move as a major blow to the state’s economy.
The story goes back to 2001-02, when the then Left Front government, led by late Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, launched the West Bengal Incentive Scheme. This program aimed to boost industrial investments and help businesses grow in the state by offering key financial perks.
But things changed dramatically in March 2025. The current Trinamool Congress (TMC) government pushed through the Revocation of West Bengal Incentive Schemes and Obligations in the Nature of Grants and Incentives Bill, 2025, in the state assembly. This law pulled the plug on incentives for existing industries, sparking widespread anger.
Earlier this week, frustrated industrialists filed petitions in the Calcutta High Court, arguing that the revocation is "unconstitutional." The court has now clubbed all similar cases together for a hearing in November, so we’ll have to wait for the big update.
Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, didn’t hold back on Wednesday. He had already labeled the bill "disastrous" and "unconstitutional" when it passed, despite strong protests from BJP MLAs. "This draconian bill sailed through in March 2025 only because of TMC’s brute majority," Adhikari said. "Their arrogance led them to shamelessly axe all industry incentives."
Adhikari praised the industrialists for approaching the high court and warned that this decision could chase away the last few businesses from West Bengal. "Mamata Banerjee’s government is turning our state into an industrial graveyard," he claimed. "They’ve betrayed companies that trusted Bengal and created jobs for our people. By applying this revocation with retrospective effect, TMC is scaring off investors and leaving our youth without jobs. This isn’t governance—it’s economic sabotage."
The controversy highlights growing tensions over West Bengal’s industrial policies, with many wondering if the high court’s ruling could revive hopes for businesses in the state. As the November hearing approaches, all eyes are on how this plays out for the economy and jobs in Bengal.
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