NEW DELHI: Amid electioneering in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Delhi High Court's order directing for the Delhi government to sign an MoU with the central government to implement PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) scheme.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih sought a response from the Centre while issuing a notice on a plea filed by the Delhi government.
SC Stays Delhi HC Order on Ayushman Bharat MoU Amid Power Dispute
Senior advocate A M Singhvi argued on behalf of the Delhi government, "How can the HC force me to sign MoU with central government?"
He submitted the High Court redefined the powers of the NCT government, by being forcing it to sign the MoU with central government, mandating the Government of India to give 60% capital expenditure, and the Delhi government 40%.
Delhi Government Challenges High Court’s Ayushman Bharat Directive in Supreme Court
The AAP government questioned the High Court's order of December, 2024, directing the Centre's ministry of health and family welfare to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by January 5 to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital. The court noted that its non-implementation, when 33 states and UTs have already implemented the scheme, would not be justified.
The Delhi government has maintained that the PM-JAY scheme would benefit only about 12-15% of the city's population, limiting its impact. In contrast, the Delhi Arogya Kosh scheme offered by it has a "broader and more far-reaching effect".
Seven Delhi BJP MPs have filed a petition in the High Court seeking a direction for implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital, contending the people of the city have been deprived of a beneficial scheme launched by the Narendra Modi government.
