Delhi HC questions requirement of MP/MLA endorsement for benefits under Delhi Lakshmi Yojana

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the requirement of obtaining endorsement from local Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to be eligible for the Delhi government's Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (DLY).

DLY is a financial empowerment welfare scheme launched by the Government of Delhi to provide monthly monetary support of ₹2,500 to eligible women residents. 

The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Abhishek Dutt and another challenging the requirement of getting endorsement from the local MP or MLA. Counsel appearing for the petitioner stated that similar schemes have been introduced in other states, but they do not have such a condition.

After considering the case, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia noted that clause 4 - which contains eligibility criteria - of the scheme does not pose any such requirement. Yet, the documents required to avail the scheme make it necessary for a woman to get endorsement from the MP or MLA.

"We can’t approve of it. Why do you need endorsement of MP/MLA to assess a woman's eligibility? You are making her application depend on what the MP or MLA of the area thinks about her. There are better ways to identify eligibility...

..We are of the prima facie view that in assessing as to whether a particular woman fulfils the eligibility criteria, various documents can be asked for. However, it is quite possible that a particular woman may or may not be able to get the endorsement from the MP/MLA. In any case, the eligibility criteria in clause 4 of the scheme does not require obtaining any letter from MP/MLA," the Court observed.

Therefore, it directed the Delhi government counsel to obtain instructions in the matter. The Court said that it would hear the matter again next week.