Telangana HC stays Single Judge order halting Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak schemes

The Telangana High Court Division Bench has stayed a Single Judge’s interim order that suspended the State’s Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak marriage assistance schemes. The Bench, hearing the State’s appeal, questioned the petitioner’s locus standi and noted that no Comptroller and Auditor General report had declared the schemes unconstitutional, though irregular expenditure of Rs 94 crore was flagged.

By Our Legal Correspondent 

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court stayed an interim order of a Single Judge that had put the implementation of the State government’s Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak marriage assistance schemes on hold.

---

The Division Bench also stayed further proceedings in the writ petition pending before the Single Judge. The Bench was hearing an appeal preferred by the State Government against the interim order. During the hearing, Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy, appearing for the State, submitted that the schemes had been in operation since 2014 and questioned the locus of the petitioner in challenging them at this stage. He contended that the petitioner, being a male and not a beneficiary under either scheme, could not claim to have suffered any personal injury or prejudice on account of their implementation.

The petitioner, advocate Vijay Gopal, who appeared in person, opposed the State’s appeal. He submitted that he had approached the Court in his capacity as a citizen of the State and contended that while the Constitution envisages the advancement and welfare of women and children, such measures cannot be founded upon unconstitutional discrimination.

The Division Bench also sought to know whether the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had made any adverse findings regarding expenditure incurred under the schemes, particularly in relation to the alleged absence of legislative or constitutional sanction.

The Bench observed that if the CAG had identified irregularities in the implementation of the schemes, the issue could potentially raise questions concerning unauthorised expenditure, for which the State Government may ultimately have to answer either before the Legislature or in appropriate legal proceedings. Responding to the Court’s query, Vijay Gopal submitted that there was no specific CAG report declaring the schemes unconstitutional or without legal sanction. However, he contended that the CAG had pointed out approximately Rs 94 crore as unaccounted expenditure connected with the schemes.