EWS Income Ceiling Raised To ₹5 Lakh For Free Treatment In Govt, Identified Private Hospitals: Govt Tells Delhi High Court
Nupur Thapliyal
13 Jan 2026 9:00 AM IST
The Delhi High Court has taken on record the Delhi Government's decision to enhance the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) income threshold for availing free treatment in government hospitals and private hospitals built on concessional land from Rs. 2.25 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum.
A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed that wide publicity be given to the decision so that eligible persons can avail the benefit.
The Court was dealing with a suo moto PIL initiated in 2017 in the wake of rising incidents of violence against doctors.
The Bench had directed the UPSC and DSSSB to expedite the process of recruitment pf specialists, nursing and para-medical staff to the hospitals and to ensure that the process is not delayed any further.
The Court directed the Delhi Government to provide details of list of all the Government hospitals and the diagnostic and radiological services available with them, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT-Scan and MRI.
It said that the list of Government hospitals shall also contain the details as to whether the machines are functional or not, and the number of patients who have undergone the said tests in 2025.
“ Let the GNCTD and NIC study the feasibility of making the said data available on real-time basis in a mobile application so that it is made easily accessible to patients, police personnel who usually deal with accident victims, ambulance providers, private hospitals etc., A status report be presented on the next date on this aspect,” the Court said.
It further directed that in future, whenever any MS or MD or Directors of Hospitals are due to retire, appropriate steps shall be taken by the Delhi Government in advance to ensure that the positions are filled on a timely basis.
The Delhi Government has also been directed to ensure that PM-JAY and PM-ABHIM Schemes are implemented in an efficient and robust manner, so that all the entitled citizens derive benefits from them.
The Court ordered that a meeting be held between the officials of the PWD and the Delhi Government's Department of Health & Family Welfare in respect of the completion of the work at Lok Nayak Hospital.
“As a substantial amount of expenditure of more than Rs. 550 Crore has already been made in this project, the said hospital ought to be completed at the earliest so that it can be made operational,” the Court said.
The matter will now be heard on February 13.
Earlier, the Court had said that appointment of nursing and para-medical staff is “absolutely crucial for the health management in hospitals in Delhi” and ordered the government to undertake the process of recruitment without any impediment.
It had said that as and when the results are declared, after completing the necessary formalities, the appointment shall be done on a post-to-post basis without waiting for the recruitment in the other post.
The High Court had earlier noted that since the time hospitals were constructed and commenced operations, patient load increased grossly. However, there was no evidence of any change in the numbers of medical experts put in place by those in authority to man these hospitals and provide patient care. As a result, violence against doctors was on the rise.
Over the course of years, the Court issued various directions to ensure proper functioning of these government hospitals, including AIIMS.
Title: Court On Its Own Motion v. Union Of India & Ors