HYDERABAD: Questioning the sustainability of extending benefits to almost the entire population, the Telangana High Court on Friday voiced concern over the state’s financial position, observing that welfare schemes should be confined to “needy and eligible persons”.
Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka made the observations while hearing a contempt case filed by J Ramakrishna, former member of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board, over the alleged non-remittance of pending surcharge on stamp duty collected for the Board.
Principal Finance Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania appeared before the court and informed it that Rs 25 crore had been remitted to the Cantonment Board on May 16, 2026 towards the pending surcharge on stamp duty and that the balance would be paid in three instalments.
During the hearing, Justice Bheemapaka observed that there were more than 100 contempt cases pending against Sultania and remarked that if punishment were imposed in every case, the officer could spend the remainder of his service in jail. The judge also questioned what an officer could do when the state itself had limited financial resources.
The judge observed that while welfare schemes were necessary, benefits should be restricted to those who genuinely needed them. Referring to Rythu Bharosa, he noted that wealthy landlords were also receiving benefits.
HC: State has 1.15 cr families, 1.05 cr avail sops
Justice Bheemapaka also observed that welfare schemes had affected the availability of labour, stating that many people were reluctant to work because they were receiving government benefits and that farmers were finding it difficult to secure agricultural labour.
He urged taxpayers to examine how the money they contribute to the government is spent and questioned a situation in which the state has around 1.15 crore families but nearly 1.05 crore beneficiaries under welfare schemes.
The judge observed that even financially well-off persons were receiving benefits under various schemes, making the state’s finances increasingly difficult to sustain. He lamented the shift in public expectations from asking what had been done for a constituency or village to asking what had been done for “me and my family”.
Clarifying that he was not criticising any particular government or making a political statement, Justice Bheemapaka referred to the large number of white ration card holders receiving multiple benefits and cautioned that if the system continued unchecked, “we will have nothing”, adding that “danger bells are ringing.”
Taking note of Sultania’s assurance on the pending payments, the court dispensed with his personal appearance on the next date, directed him to file an affidavit confirming the payments and adjourned the matter to August 19, 2026.
