The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, called for a response from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government regarding the non-implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital. The query came following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by seven BJP Members of Parliament representing various constituencies in Delhi.
Chief Justice Manmohan, along with Justice Manmeet PS Arora, presided over the bench that issued notices not only to the Delhi government but also to the Central government and the Lieutenant Governor. The court has provided the respondents with an opportunity to present their standpoint, granting them time to respond via affidavits. The proceedings are set to continue on December 11.
The MPs, Harsh Malhotra, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Praveen Khandelwal, Yogendra Chandolia, Manoj Tiwari, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, and Bansuri Swaraj, have raised concerns about the significant financial burdens on Delhi’s underprivileged citizens due to healthcare costs. According to their plea, many residents are compelled to borrow or sell assets to cover medical emergencies due to the lack of comprehensive health coverage which AB-PMJAY provides with its Rs 5 lakh insurance cap.
The petitioners emphasized that Delhi remains the sole Union Territory where this central government-backed healthcare scheme has not been rolled out, leaving many without critical support. In court, Bansuri Swaraj represented the group, advocating for the urgent need to bridge the healthcare gap caused by political disparities.
