The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Government, the Chief Election Commissioner and several State Governments, including Odisha’s, over the launch of direct cash transfer benefit schemes to farmers ahead of the 2019 elections.
The notices were issued in response to a petition by one Dr Pentapati Pulla Rao of Telagana questioning the Constitutional validity of the announcement and implementation of direct cash transfer benefit schemes prior to the announcement of the election schedule.
The schemes in question include KALIA introduced by the Odisha Government, PM KISAN Yojana by the Centre and Rythu Bandhu, Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana in Telangana.
Rao’s counsel Sravan Kumar said, “Distributing money to farmers and labourers through direct cash transfer schemes ahead of the elections is unfair. My client has moved the apex court seeking its intervention to stop this illegal practice.”
In reaction to the development, senior Odisha Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said, “The Supreme Court has issued the notices after observing that implementation of such schemes was not valid. The Election Commission had initially asked the Odisha Government not to implement the KALIA scheme, but as it had soft corner for the Centre it didn’t stop any Central scheme.”
While the BJP criticised the Odisha Government over the timing of implementation of the KALIA scheme, it demanded reviewing the legal aspects of the PM-KISAN Yojana.
“By announcing schemes like Biju Yuva Vahini and KALIA, the BJD Government tried to fool the people of Odisha,” said BJP MLA Bishnu Chandra Sethi.
However, State Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo said that only after reviewing the notice of the Supreme Court, a statement would be issued by the State Government.
