The Delhi High Court has officially recorded the Delhi government’s decision to enhance the income eligibility limit for availing free medical treatment under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category from ₹2.2 lakh to ₹5 lakh per annum.
A division bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet P S Arora, in an order dated January 8, directed the authorities to ensure wide publicity of the revised criteria so that eligible citizens can avail the benefit.
The court noted that this enhanced threshold would now apply across all government hospitals and to private hospitals in Delhi that were constructed on land allotted at concessional rates, where EWS obligations are in place.
“All persons who wish to avail of health facilities in Delhi would now be entitled to take benefit under the EWS criteria of ₹5,00,000, upon satisfying the necessary pre-conditions,” the court said in its order.
The development came in response to submissions made by the Delhi government during ongoing proceedings in a suo motu case initiated by the court in 2017 over the poor state of critical care in Delhi’s government hospitals.
The Directorate General of Health Services issued an order on January 2, formally approving the enhancement in income limit, in line with the court’s earlier directions. The competent authority within the city administration had approved the change, which aims to expand access to free healthcare for a larger section of Delhi’s population.
The bench was also informed that this revision was in compliance with prior directions from the court, particularly as part of broader efforts to address healthcare deficiencies highlighted by the Dr S K Sarin committee report. The committee had flagged serious issues such as vacancies in medical staff, infrastructure gaps, and the shortage of faculty in critical care units.
Senior advocate Ashok Agarwal, who is serving as amicus curiae in the matter, has been assisting the court in monitoring compliance and improvements in the healthcare delivery system in the capital.
The High Court’s continuing oversight stems from its concern for strengthening access to quality medical care, especially for the underprivileged. With the enhancement in the income threshold, a larger number of Delhi residents are expected to benefit from free medical treatment under the EWS quota.
