New Delhi, August 24, 2026: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to explain why women applying for financial assistance under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana must obtain an endorsement from their local Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
The scheme provides ₹2,500 per month in financial assistance to eligible women in Delhi. The court questioned whether making a recommendation from an elected representative compulsory is necessary for determining whether an applicant qualifies for the government benefit.
Court Seeks Explanation From Delhi Government
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Delhi government to submit a short affidavit explaining the reason behind the endorsement requirement.
The government has been given 10 days to explain what objective it intends to achieve by requiring applicants to obtain an MP or MLA recommendation.
The court also indicated that there would be no major concern if an MP or MLA endorsement were merely one of several possible methods available to applicants. However, the judges questioned the situation where such an endorsement becomes the only route for completing the application.
Concern Over Access to Welfare Benefits
The court’s concern centres on whether an eligible woman could be prevented from receiving government assistance simply because she cannot obtain a recommendation from an elected representative.
During the proceedings, the bench questioned the government on what would happen if an applicant did not know an MP or MLA or was unable to obtain the required endorsement.
The judges observed that eligibility for a welfare scheme can generally be established through documentary evidence. The court pointed out that documents such as income certificates and proof of domicile could be used to establish whether a person satisfies the required conditions.
PIL Challenging the Requirement
The issue has reached the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt and councillor Vedpal Sheetal Chaudhary.
The petitioners have challenged the requirement that applicants obtain a recommendation from their local MP or MLA before their applications can be processed.
According to the petitioners, making political endorsement compulsory gives elected representatives excessive discretion over access to a government welfare benefit. They have argued that such a system could turn a welfare entitlement into a form of political patronage.
What the Lakshmi Yojana Provides
The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana is a direct-benefit welfare programme under which eligible women receive ₹2,500 every month.
The scheme became operational on August 1, 2026, when the Delhi government opened an online registration portal. According to reports, the MP/MLA endorsement was included among the documents required for registration.
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