New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (November 27) expressed shock over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government reportedly not accepting financial aid through Centre-funded healthcare scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a plea filed by seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from Delhi seeking a direction to the AAP-led Delhi government to implement the Centre-funded healthcare scheme in the national capital.
‘Strange’ that the Delhi government was not accepting financial aid from Centre: High Court
The bench said that it was “strange” that the Delhi government was not accepting financial aid from Centre when there was “no money” with the city government for its healthcare system.
“You may have difference of opinion but in this case you are refusing aid.. None of your machines are working. The machines have to work but you have no money actually,” the bench said.
I am shocked, Chief Justice Manmohan remarked on Delhi govt refusing Rs 5 lakh for the citizens
Chief Justice Manmohan, while hearing the matter, remarked, “Today you are refusing Rs 5 lakh for the citizens. I am shocked.” During the further course of hearing, he further remarked, “I have been saying openly in court that you are virtually bankrupt..your health minister and health secretary are not talking to each other. In that sort of a mess you are not not accepting central aid,” news agency PTI reported.
Seven MPs have sought the Delhi government to implement the healthcare scheme
The seven Delhi MPs – Harsh Malhotra, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Praveen Khandelwal, Yogendra Chandolia, Manoj Tiwari, Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Bansuri Swaraj – have said in their Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that Delhi was the only Union Territory in the country where the healthcare scheme providing essential health coverage of Rs 5 lakh for the underprivileged was yet to be implemented.
The petitioner MPs have sought the city government to implement the healthcare scheme, stating that “clash of political ideologies must take a back seat” in the interest of welfare of the residents of Delhi.
The High Court has posted the matter on November 28 to enable the standing counsel for the Delhi government, who said that the plea seemed to be misconceived, to go through the PIL.
