Danger bells are ringing, says Telangana high court, questions funding of welfare schemes | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: Expressing concern over Telangana’s growing debt burden while hearing a challenge to the Kalyana Lakshmi-Shaadi Mubarak scheme, the high court on Thursday directed the state govt to file a detailed affidavit explaining how large welfare programmes are being funded and whether such borrowing complies with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act.The court also refused to vacate the stay on the scheme and pulled up officials over inaccuracies in an affidavit filed before it.Hearing the matter, Justice NV Shravan Kumar clarified that the court was not concerned with any political party or individual, but only with the rights of citizens, observing that even a single aggrieved person has the right to approach the court.Noting that the affidavit filed by the principal secretary, BC welfare, did not contain specific details on the state’s debt position, the judge directed the principal secretary, finance department, to submit a comprehensive affidavit explaining debt accumulation arising from the funding of major welfare schemes and its compliance with the Telangana FRBM Act.“Such loans cannot be taken for such schemes, as it is a contravention of the FRBM Act,” Justice Shravan Kumar observed.The judge also took serious exception to the affidavit for incorrectly reproducing Article 162 of the Constitution. Although additional advocate general Mohammed Imran Khan described it as a “typographical blunder”, the court declined to proceed further with the hearing and adjourned the matter, directing the state to correct the mistake and file a better affidavit.Earlier, Imran Khan informed the court that 19 contempt cases relating to land acquisition compensation remained pending. Of these, payments in three cases were under process. He sought time to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the status of each case.He also requested the court to vacate the interim stay on the Kalyana Lakshmi-Shaadi Mubarak scheme, contending that the suspension was adversely affecting several young women awaiting benefits.However, the court declined to grant any relief.The judge observed that land losers who have approached the court belong to different economic backgrounds and own holdings ranging from half an acre to 10 acres. He further pointed out that agricultural labourers dependent on those lands were also affected and required rehabilitation.“But we are not drawing any difference between anybody among the strata. So please be aware of that. We wanted to ascertain how you are going to pay,” the judge remarked.Referring to earlier submissions by govt officials indicating a shortage of funds, Justice Shravan Kumar questioned whether meeting statutory obligations should take precedence over welfare spending.“What is the priority? The danger bells are ringing, please try to understand that we are concerned. There are many others – not receiving their pensions, post-retirement monetary benefits,” he said.The judge, who also serves as the administrative judge for Mahbubnagar district, said the financial strain was affecting even court employees. “I can tell my own example, the staff at Mahbubnagar courts are not paid for months,” he said.Meanwhile, advocate Vijay Gopal, appearing in person, placed before the court a representation submitted to the chief secretary by govt employees, teachers, workers and pensioners. The representation highlighted demands relating to pending dearness allowance arrears, pay revision benefits and other dues.According to the petitioner, the representation reflected the precarious state of govt finances and indicated that rising debt levels were linked to welfare giveaways being extended contrary to the constitutional mandate.
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