The Supreme Court has pulled up the Assam government for attempting to implement multi-crore public welfare schemes for the poor without even formulating proper norms or mechanism to identify beneficiaries.
“Elections are due in the State and what is happening? Hundreds of crores are being disbursed through welfare schemes without basic norms in place to identify the needy. How do you choose who needs the most from among the lakhs of poor in Assam?” Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur asked on Thursday during a hearing.
The Bench, also comprising Justices A.K. Sikri and R. Banumathi, said “the court will not let this go until proper norms are laid down by the government.”
“Show that scheme to the HC and get its approval. Till that is done, you should not disburse any amount under any welfare scheme. This is an election year. That is why you are proceeding to disburse funds in such a manner,” the Chief Justice said.
