You have no money, why refuse PM-JAY aid: HC to Delhi govt.

While hearing a plea by BJP MPs, court pulls up Delhi govt. for denying Centre’s healthcare assistance to citizens despite being ‘virtually bankrupt’

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed shock at the Delhi government for allegedly not accepting healthcare funds from the Centre through its Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

A Bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said it was “strange” that the Delhi government, which has “no money” for the healthcare system, was refusing aid from the Central government.

Addressing the Delhi government counsel, the court said, “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 accepting Central aid.”

Justice Manmohan said, “You may have a difference of opinion, but in this case, you are refusing aid… You have no money actually… (and) are refusing ₹5 lakh (health insurance) for the citizens. I am shocked.”

The court’s remarks came in response to a plea by the city’s seven BJP MPs — Harsh Malhotra, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Praveen Khandelwal, Yogender Chandoliya, Manoj Tiwari, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, and Bansuri Swaraj — seeking directions to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to implement PM-JAY, the Centre’s health insurance scheme, which offers annual coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family.

In their petition, the lawmakers said Delhi is the only Union Territory where the programme has not been implemented, depriving the city’s underprivileged citizens of much-needed health insurance and forcing many to borrow or sell assets to cope with medical emergencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue in a speech on October 29 this year, slamming the governments of Delhi and West Bengal for not joining PM-JAY “due to their political interests”.

A day later, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal hit back, claiming that the programme was “a major scam” and that “there is no need to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme” in Delhi as the AAP government provides free treatment of up to ₹1 crore to all city residents.

The court said PM-JAY is an aid given to a particular segment of citizens, and steps must be taken to iron out the differences within the Delhi administration.

It will hear the case again on November 28.

Published - November 28, 2024 01:20 am IST