HC quashes plea challenging TN govt scheme to distribute Rs 2K to BPL families

The Madras High Court Thursday dismissed PIL petitions challenging the distribution of Rs 2,000 cash assistance each to 60 lakh BPL families in Tamil Nadu which was also extended to families of labourers engaged in various trades. "It is for the state government to decide as to who should be the beneficiaries under a particular scheme," a bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad said while dismissing the petition.

The petitioners, M Karunanidhi and Murugesan, had sought for strict adherence to the guidelines framed by the government and to identify the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, including publishing a list of such families on the state website before distributing the one-time financial assistance of Rs 2,000.

The bench passed the order after hearing the arguments of Advocate-General Vijay Narayan and senior counsel P Wilson, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners. "Courts cannot sit as an appellate authority over the policy of the state unless the policy is so arbitrary that it should be struck down," the bench said.

It also refused to accept the petitioner's contention that only persons below the poverty line were entitled to the benefit of the special assistance scheme. "The state government apart from identifying the rural and urban poor had also taken into account persons registered with the Tamil Nadu Welfare Board and 16 other boards, and the Government Order would also show the scheme was not limited to people of BPL. It was meant to be extended to poor families also," it observed.

The bench also directed the government to verify the particulars already available and cross-check with Aadhaar details and information contained in the questionnaire given to the people and displayed at the Grama Sabha and other places as required. It also directed that transparency be maintained and ineligible persons are excluded.