The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list an application mentioned urgently by advocate Prashant Bhushan highlighting a "grave crisis" concerning crores of rural poor who were not getting their wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) even as the COVID-19 pandemic had driven them to the brink of desperation.
Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana agreed to list the case after Mr. Bhushan and advocate Cheryl D'Souza, appearing for Swaraj Abhiyan, urged for an early hearing.
Mr. Bhushan said State governments were facing a shortage of ₹9,682 crores as on November 26, 2021. He said 100% of the funds allocated under the scheme for the year had already been exhausted.
