High Court Issues Notice To Centre, Delhi Govt. On Plea For Proper Allocation & Utilization Of Funds Under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan

The Delhi High Court today issued notice on a PIL seeking directions upon Centre and the Delhi government to properly utilize the funds allocated under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP). SCSP was introduced as a part of 6th Five-year Plan, with an aim to uplift the Scheduled Caste community. It envisages channelizing a minimum flow of outlays and benefits from all sectors of development in the Annual Plans of States/ UTs and Central Ministries in proportion to the Scheduled Caste population of the concerned state/ UT. The plea has been filed by Harnam Singh, former Chairman of the Delhi Commission for Safai Karamcharis, through Advocates Mehmood Pracha and Jatin Bhatt. It alleges poor utilization of the funds allocated under SCSP and states that only a miniscule fraction of the allocated amount is spent by the State Government on the welfare of the Scheduled Castes. For instance, in the year 2016-17, it is submitted that merely 2.45% of the total outlay under SCSP was actually utilized. Similarly, in 2020-21, it is alleged that the total amount utilized for the welfare of SC/ST/OBC and minorities collectively was 17.92% whereas a minimum of 16.9% of the total outlay was allocated for the welfare of the SC community alone. Moreover, it is alleged that several State Governments have not been earmarking adequate funds to SCSP, proportionate to the share of the Scheduled Castes population. Such actions of the Respondent-authorities, the plea alleges, amounts to infringement of the rights guaranteed to the members of the Scheduled Caste community of Delhi under Articles 14 (Equality), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination), 16 (Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment), 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty), 21A () of the Indian Constitution and various Directive Principles of State Policy. Thus, the Petitioner seeks an ad-interim order thereby directing Delhi Government to give a detailed account of the amount spent till date in the year 2021-22 from the allocated amount under the SCSP for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes. It also seeks establishment of a web enabled MIS with software engineered data to make information regarding the allocated funds under the SCSP, their release and expenditure against each scheme, physical progress, etc. for the welfare of the SC community to be accessed by and monitored in the public domain.Union of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Delhi Govt., Department for Welfare of SC/ST/OBC, Delhi Scheduled Castes Financial & Development Corporation and Delhi govt's Planning Department are Respondent parties in the matter. The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice and posted it for hearing on January 11. Case Title: Harnam Singh v. Union of India & Ors.

High Court Issues Notice To Centre, Delhi Govt. On Plea For Proper Allocation & Utilization Of Funds Under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan

Akshita Saxena

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