Supreme Court Pulls Up Maharashtra Government Over Pending Compensation, Threatens to Halt ‘Bahu, Behan’ Schemes
The Supreme Court of India recently issued a sharp warning to the Maharashtra government regarding its failure to pay compensation to landowners allocated denotified reserve forest land. During a hearing on Wednesday, a bench consisting of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan threatened to put a stop to several state-provided welfare schemes, including the popular “Ladki, Bahu, Behan” (daughter, daughter-in-law, sister) yojanas, if the government does not settle its dues by August 28.
The rebuke comes as part of the Court’s response to the Maharashtra government’s non-compliance with an earlier order. The state had been directed to pay compensatory afforestation levies concerning the denotification of forest land in Pashan, Pune.
SC’s Strong Stance: Freebies vs. Compensation
The bench made its position clear, highlighting the disparity between the funds allocated for welfare schemes and the pending compensation for landowners who lost their property through improper procedures. Justice BR Gavai expressed frustration, stating, “You have thousands of crores of public money (for freebies), but you cannot compensate someone who was deprived of land without due process.”
In an unusually stern remark, the Supreme Court pointed out that while the Maharashtra government has vast funds allocated for various “freebies,” they have failed to make payments to the landowners affected by the denotification of forest land. Justice Gavai further stated, “If you do not pay unless we permit it, we will not allow all those freebies in the state. We will stop the ‘ladki, bahu, behan’ yojana.”
These welfare schemes, including the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, are popular initiatives designed to offer monthly payments to women between the ages of 21 and 65. The government announced a monthly payment of Rs 1,500 per beneficiary under the scheme in a move aimed at wooing female voters ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.
A Pre-Election Budget under Scrutiny
The Supreme Court’s harsh comments followed the Maharashtra government’s recent budget presentation, where Rs 96,000 crore was earmarked for various welfare schemes. The announcement comes just ahead of the Assembly elections, raising concerns about the state prioritizing election-centric “freebies” over necessary payments like compensation to landowners.
Earlier on August 7, the Court criticized this budget, highlighting that while the state government seemed eager to spend money on these schemes, they ignored the compensation owed to those who had been adversely impacted by the denotification of forest land.
The bench indicated that should the state government fail to meet the compensation deadline of August 28, the Court would take measures to ensure that state resources are redirected towards fulfilling this obligation, even at the expense of halting popular welfare schemes.
FAQs
What is the Supreme Court case about?
The Supreme Court is addressing a case involving compensation payments to landowners in Maharashtra who were allocated denotified reserve forest land in Pashan, Pune. The state government has failed to pay the compensatory afforestation levy as previously ordered by the Court.
Why did the Supreme Court threaten to stop welfare schemes like ‘Bahu, Behan Yojana’?
The Court issued the threat because the Maharashtra government had not fulfilled its obligations to compensate landowners, despite allocating large funds for welfare schemes. The Court indicated that if the compensation is not paid by August 28, it might halt the distribution of welfare benefits to redirect funds.
What is the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana?
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a welfare scheme announced by the Maharashtra government, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to women aged 21-65. This scheme was introduced in the lead-up to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.
What did the Supreme Court say about Maharashtra’s budget?
On August 7, the Supreme Court criticized the Maharashtra government’s recent budget for prioritizing Rs 96,000 crore worth of “freebies,” while failing to compensate landowners affected by the denotification of forest land. The Court emphasized that funds should be redirected to meet legal compensation obligations.
When is the next hearing or deadline in this case?
The Supreme Court has given the Maharashtra government until August 28 to pay the compensation owed to landowners. The Court has warned that it might halt certain welfare schemes if the deadline is not met.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s sharp criticism of the Maharashtra government underscores the growing concern over the state’s allocation of resources. While welfare schemes like the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana are designed to support women, the Court’s remarks indicate that priorities need to be rebalanced. The government must fulfill its legal obligations to landowners, especially when it comes to compensating them for land that was unjustly denotified. The August 28 deadline looms large, with the potential for significant consequences should the state fail to act swiftly.
Dhruv Sharma is a dedicated content creator and the author behind Yojana World. With a passion for empowering individuals through information, Dhruv specializes in writing about government schemes and services in India.