PIL Against Maharashtra’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ Scheme: Bombay HC Denies Urgent Hearing

A chartered accountant from Mumbai has filed a public interest litigation with the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government’s “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.”

This scheme, announced in the state budget, offers a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21-65 whose family income is below Rs.2.5 lakh.

The petitioner, Naveed Abdul Saeed Mulla, argues that the scheme will impose an extra financial burden on taxpayers. His lawyer, Owais Pechkar, requested an urgent hearing and an interim order to suspend the scheme’s implementation, as funds are scheduled to be distributed later this month.

A division bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar declined the request for an urgent hearing, stating that the plea would be addressed according to the auto-listing system. Chief Justice Upadhyaya remarked, “Do not make the system of auto listing redundant. Urgency means demolition or if someone is going to be hanged.”

The PIL is expected to be heard on August 5, according to the High Court’s website. Mulla’s petition contends that the scheme places an undue financial strain on taxpayers, whose contributions should be directed towards infrastructure rather than cash handouts.

He described the scheme as akin to bribery or gifts intended to influence voters in upcoming state assembly elections and alleged that it contravenes the Representation of People Act, 1951, constituting a “corrupt practice.”

Additionally, the PIL claims the scheme will cost approximately Rs 4,600 crore, exacerbating Maharashtra’s existing debt of Rs 7.8 lakh crore, and argues for its cancellation.