Delhi HC Questions MLA, MP Endorsement for Women's Aid Scheme

The Delhi High Court has raised concerns over the Delhi government's decision to require women seeking ₹2,500 monthly assistance under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana to obtain an endorsement letter from their Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA).

The court observed that the endorsement requirement could make access to the scheme dependent on a lawmaker's discretion and block the application of an otherwise eligible woman.

The court was hearing a petition filed by former councillors Abhishekh Dutt and Vedpal Sheetal Chaudhary challenging several conditions imposed for availing the scheme, including the requirement of an endorsement letter from the local MP or MLA.

The eligibility criteria for the scheme include being the eldest woman aged between 21 and 60 in a household with an annual income of less than ₹2.5 lakh, having been a resident of Delhi for at least 10 years, being a registered voter in Delhi, and having a household annual electricity consumption of less than 2,400 units.

However, the court noted that eligibility could instead be established through documentary evidence, and that the endorsement requirement was not part of the scheme's eligibility criteria.

The petitioners argued that the endorsement requirement effectively created a system of "political gatekeeping", particularly disadvantaging women without political connections. They also pointed out that the scheme did not prescribe a time limit within which an MP or MLA had to decide whether to endorse an application, or lay down any criteria governing such decisions.

The court directed the Delhi government's counsel to seek instructions on the requirement and said it would consider the matter further on Monday.

### Eligibility Criteria for Delhi Lakshmi Yojana

| Criteria | Details | | --- | --- | | Age | 21-60 years | | Income | Less than ₹2.5 lakh per annum | | Residency | At least 10 years in Delhi | | Voter Registration | Registered voter in Delhi | | Electricity Consumption | Less than 2,400 units per annum |

The scheme was notified on August 6, and eligible women are expected to begin receiving benefit letters from August 26, with the monthly assistance scheduled to be credited from September 1.

The government has also finalised the mechanism for disbursing the ₹2,500 benefit, allowing beneficiaries to choose between receiving ₹1,000 through central bank digital currency (CBDC) and ₹1,500 through a fixed or recurring deposit, or putting the entire amount into a deposit.

The court's decision has raised concerns over the potential impact of the endorsement requirement on women's access to the scheme, and the government's decision to require such a requirement in the first place.