Delhi HC seeks rationalefor MP/MLA endorsementto get Lakshmi Yojana aid
The Delhi High Court has requested an explanation from the Delhi government regarding the requirement for MP or MLA endorsements for the Lakshmi Yojana financial aid scheme. Petitioners argue that this mandate grants political representatives excessive discretion, potentially turning a welfare program into a tool for political patronage.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between administrative oversight and political influence in the distribution of public welfare benefits.
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit within 10 days explaining why women seeking financial assistance under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana must obtain an endorsement from their MP or MLA.
A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia questioned the rationale for making endorsement from an elected representative mandatory for every applicant to the scheme, which provides financial assistance of ₹2,500 a month.
The court sought the government’s response while hearing a plea by former Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt and Aya Nagar councillor Vedpal Sheetal Chaudhary, challenging the provision and arguing that it gives political representatives “unbridled discretion” and effectively turns a welfare entitlement into an “instrument of political patronage”.
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