Rejecting the contentions, the High Court bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit dismissed the PIL.
Published Sep 27, 2023 | 4:47 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 27, 2023 | 4:52 PM
The Karnataka High Court. (Creative Commons)
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, 26 September, dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that was filed against the depiction of photos of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the ministers concerned about the orders issued on the Karnataka government’s Gruha Jyothi and Gruha Lakshmi guarantee schemes.
Advocate Umapathi argued the PIL on behalf of Bheemappa Gadad from the Belagavi district of the state.
Rejecting the contentions, the high court bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit dismissed the PIL.
The two schemes were part of the five poll promises made during the May 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls by the Congress.
The two schemes provide up to 200 units of free electricity per household and ₹2,000 per month to the woman head of a family, respectively.
On 5 August, the Karnataka government launched the Gruha Jyothi scheme, which aims to provide up to 200 units of free power to all households in the state.
Pointing out that so far 1.42 crore households had registered under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, Energy Minister KJ George said that this was not a free scheme.
It was to improve and enhance the financial status of the people who are already in distress due to the price rise of petrol, diesel, and LPG, among other things, he said.
Clarifying the deadline for the Gruha Jyothi scheme, George said, “There is no deadline to apply for this scheme. Those who register by 27 August will also get the benefit of the scheme when they get the bill for August electricity usage in the first week of September,” the minister added.
Of the 1.42 crore applicants so far, close to 18 lakh were received from beneficiaries of various existing schemes such as Bhagya Jyothi, Kuteera Jyothi and Amrut Jyothi.
On 30 August, the Gruha Lakshmi Yojana—which guarantees monthly financial assistance of ₹2,000 each to 1.1 crore women heads of families— was launched by the government.
This is said to be the country’s largest direct monetary benefit transfer catering to women with the aim of universal basic income (UBI).
Doddamahadevamma, Shoba Rani, Mohseen Taj, Asha, Anitha, Banashankri, Bhagy, Ashwini, Pushpalatha, and Smita were the first beneficiaries to receive the digital cards in Mysuru.
The scheme was simultaneously launched at over 12,000 places in all 31 districts. District in-charge ministers presided over the inaugural ceremony.
“A total of 1.1 crore beneficiaries have registered for the scheme. Haveri and Chitradurga districts recorded the highest registrations with 88 percent of women heads of families registering for the scheme,” according to the state’s Department of Women and Child Welfare.
“Bengaluru saw only 68 percent registrations, which is the lowest in the state. Around 15 lakh applications have been rejected due to technical and documentation issues. However, those whose applications have been rejected are allowed to reapply with proper documents,” officials said.
(With PTI inputs)
