HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has questioned the legal basis for involving MLAs in the distribution of cheques under the government welfare schemes, observing that public funds must be spent and disbursed strictly in accordance with law.
The observations were made during the hearing of a petition concerning the Kalyana Lakshmi welfare scheme. The court questioned whether there was any provision in the Constitution or law requiring MLAs to personally distribute cheques to beneficiaries.
The court observed that government officials could undertake the distribution of welfare benefits and questioned the rationale behind requiring elected representatives to hand over cheques funded by the public exchequer.
“Why should MLAs distribute cheques drawn from public funds?” the court asked, pointing out that there appeared to be no statutory or constitutional mandate for such a practice.
The court further emphasised that every rupee spent from the public exchequer must have legal authority. The observations assume significance amid concerns over the manner in which welfare schemes are implemented and the possible politicisation of distribution programmes.
During the proceedings, the court also raised broader questions concerning the state’s responsibility towards vulnerable sections of society. It questioned whether adequate attention was being paid to children found begging on roads and at traffic signals, describing them as future citizens of the country.
The bench also sought clarity on whether homeless women were being adequately covered under the relevant welfare legislation and schemes.
The court’s observations extended beyond the immediate issue concerning Kalyana Lakshmi scheme and touched upon the wider question of whether welfare expenditure was being directed towards those most in need. The court also referred to compensation for people who had parted with their lands for public purposes, questioning the status of compensation to those who had contributed their land to nation-building projects.
Meanwhile, the court granted an exception from the interim stay in respect of the welfare scheme for marriages of girls with disabilities, allowing benefits under that category to remain outside the scope of the stay.
