A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the newly introduced Ladli Behna and Ladka Bhau schemes by the Maharashtra government. The schemes, launched ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, aim to provide financial assistance to women and youth. Under the Ladli Behna scheme, women are to receive ₹1,500 per month, while the Ladka Bhau scheme offers monthly stipends of ₹6,000, ₹8,000, and ₹10,000 to young apprentices.
The PIL, filed by a chartered accountant from Navi Mumbai, argues that these schemes are a misuse of taxpayer money. The petitioner claims the schemes are politically motivated, introduced in response to the ruling coalition’s poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections and fearing a similar outcome in the state assembly elections.
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Tue 21 Oct. 2024
The petitioner’s lawyer stated, “These schemes have been introduced during election time for personal gain, wasting taxpayer money, and increasing the state’s fiscal deficit. We have requested the High Court to impose an immediate stay on these schemes.”
However, the court has declined to expedite the hearing. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, while addressing the plea, questioned the urgency of the matter. The court has scheduled a hearing on the petition for August 6.
