The Gauhati High Court has put a halt to the freebies announced by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-led Government in Assam ahead of the next year’s election to the Assam legislative Assembly. The Gauhati High court while hearing a Public Interest litigation (PIl) has asked the Assam Government to submit the criteria or guidelines for selection of beneficiaries for welfare schemes to be implemented by the State Government under the CM's special package ahead 2016 Assembly elections.
The court has asked the State Government to submit the guidelines to the court by December 8 next. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had in September announced that the Government is going to roll out a total of 25 schemes under the Chief Minister’s Special Schemes for the people of the State from December this year, which will be worth over Rs850 crore.
The Chief Minister had stated that the Government is all set to roll out the schemes from December this year and that while the Government will continue the existing schemes, some new schemes will also be started depending on their needs. The schemes will include everything from distribution of threads to fulfil the housing need of the homeless people and many others, Gogoi said.
The proposed schemes are expected to benefit about 76.41 lakh people of the State.
A division bench of the High court including acting Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei and justice lanusungkum Jamir issued the order in connection with a PIl filed by an NGO, Assam Public Works (APW).
The NGO had alleged that there are no objective guidelines for selection of beneficiaries for these to be rolled out schemes and they expressed apprehension that these schemes will be misused to garner political mileage ahead of elections.