The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected an urgent plea to fast-track a hearing against the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) election promise of a Rs.2,100 monthly stipend to women under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana. Justice Jyoti Singh ruled that there was no valid reason to expedite the petition, which is already listed for hearing on January 30.
Petitioner’s Argument for Urgency
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the AAP’s scheme was being publicized to attract voters for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, with counting set for February 8. The plea claimed that the party’s poll promise was misleading, as the Delhi government had officially denied the existence of such a scheme.
Advocate Shiv Shankar Parashar, representing the petitioner, Vijay Kumar, stated that a complaint was filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 3 regarding AAP’s alleged false announcement. He urged the court to direct the ECI to address the complaint promptly.
The petition also sought to stop AAP workers from collecting forms and personal information related to the scheme, arguing that such actions were fraudulent.
High Court’s Response
Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the urgency of the plea, highlighting that the petitioner was unrepresented when the matter was called three times on January 10. “No grounds for hearing are made out,” the court observed.
The court also questioned the maintainability of the petition, which was filed as an “election petition.”
Controversy Around the Scheme
The controversy began when AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced on December 12, 2024, that the stipend under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana would increase from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,100 if the party returned to power. However, on December 25, the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development and Health departments publicly distanced themselves from the scheme.
In a notice, these departments warned citizens against providing personal information to unauthorized individuals claiming to register them for the scheme. They described the initiative as “non-existent” and labeled any data collection by private individuals or political parties as “fraudulent.”
Election Commission’s Role
The petitioner accused the Election Commission of inaction regarding the complaint filed against AAP. He requested the court to direct the chief electoral officer to take immediate action to stop AAP from continuing with the scheme’s publicity.
Implications for Delhi Elections
With the Delhi assembly elections nearing, the controversy over the stipend scheme has sparked a political row. Critics allege that AAP is using false promises to lure voters, while the party maintains that the promise is part of its broader agenda to support women’s welfare.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court’s refusal to expedite the hearing indicates that the petition will proceed as per the regular schedule. Meanwhile, the controversy around AAP’s stipend promise continues to draw attention, raising questions about accountability in pre-election promises.
