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The Delhi Government has defended before the Delhi High Court the requirement for eligible women to obtain a recommendation from their area Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to avail ₹2,500 monthly benefits under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana.

In a response submitted by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, the Government has said that the till date, approximately 7,32.814 have been received bearing the endorsement of the local MPs/MLAs.

The submission was made in a short affidavit filed by the Delhi Government while opposing a petition challenging the requirement of an MP/MLA endorsement on the application form.

The plea has been filed by former Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt and sitting councillor Vedpal Sheetal Chaudhary.

The Government said that when the Note for the Council of Ministers was prepared on July 17, the requirement of a recommendation from the area MP/MLA had already been decided to be incorporated into the scheme.

“The inter-departmental observations also examined the said clause and did not find anything unusual therein. Thereafter, a proposal for approval of the Council of Ministers was moved by the Department of Women and Child Development, GNCTD,” the response states.

The affidavit further states that the Council of Ministers subsequently approved guidelines containing the condition of “Recommendation of MP/MLA”, followed by the Cabinet's decision implementing the scheme.

For context, under the scheme, eligible women are to receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500.

The Delhi Government has argued that none of the beneficiaries has approached the High Court challenging the endorsement requirement. It also claims that the large number of applications received showed that the condition was not causing difficulty or hardship to persons seeking the scheme's benefits.

The Government has argued that the requirement of an MP/MLA recommendation is neither ultra vires, arbitrary, capricious nor contrary to any statutory provision.

The affidavit also refers to other schemes which similarly require recommendations or endorsements from MPs/MLAs, including the NDMC old-age/widow/handicap pension scheme, the Kashyap Scheme for Food and Shelter in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Chief Minister's Relief Fund and the Dr Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration for Inter-Caste Marriages.

The Delhi Government has sought dismissal of the petition, contending that it is not in public interest and lacks merit.

“That the background of Petitioner makes it clear that the present petition has been filed for purpose of seeking publicity, he being a representative of a political party, and for creating hurdles in the path of the present Government's efforts towards the welfare of the people through schemes such as the one impugned herein. The present Petition, therefore, deserves to be dismissed,” the response states.

Title: ABHISHEK DUTT & ANR v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT DELHI & ANR

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