Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has withdrawn his Supreme Court petition accusing the Lt. Governor’s Office of obstructing the ‘Farishtey Scheme.’ The LG Secretariat claims the move exposes Bhardwaj’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated
BY PC Bureau
In a significant development, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has withdrawn his writ petition in the Supreme Court against the Lt. Governor’s (LG) Office regarding the implementation of the ‘Farishtey Scheme.’ The LG Secretariat described the withdrawal as an acknowledgment that the allegations made by Bhardwaj were baseless, false, and aimed at maligning the LG Office.
According to an official statement from the LG Secretariat, Bhardwaj’s petition accused the LG Office of obstructing the scheme, which provides financial assistance for emergency medical care to accident victims. However, the withdrawal of the case, the statement said, vindicated the LG Office’s stance that the claims were unfounded and politically motivated.
Key Points of Dispute
Scheme Implementation:
The LG Secretariat noted that the ‘Farishtey Scheme’ was fully operational and had never been halted, as alleged by Bhardwaj. Data provided by the LG Office showed that during the financial year 2022-2023, the scheme benefited 3,698 individuals. By October 2023, 3,604 beneficiaries had already been covered in the current financial year.
Payments to Hospitals:
Payments under the scheme were made consistently. In FY 2022-2023, ₹4.85 crore was disbursed to private hospitals, with ₹4.98 crore paid by February 12, 2024. These figures, the LG Office stated, disproved allegations of non-payment or disruption.
Departmental Accountability:
The statement emphasized that the Health Department, along with the Finance Department, is solely responsible for the implementation of such schemes. Both departments fall under the jurisdiction of Delhi’s elected ministers. As Chairman of the Delhi Arogya Kosh, Bhardwaj himself oversees approvals for files submitted by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS).
LG Office’s Response
The LG Office accused Bhardwaj of attempting to politicize governance and drag the matter into court without cause. “This was a classic example of dragging politics into the judiciary,” the statement read, asserting that the allegations were meant to create a false narrative against the LG Office.
Backdrop of Ethnic Violence in Delhi
The controversy comes amid ongoing ethnic unrest in the state, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently calling for unity and reconciliation. Political tensions in Delhi remain high, with the AAP government and the LG Office frequently clashing over administrative matters.
The withdrawal of the petition has raised questions about the intent behind Bhardwaj’s claims and whether they were part of a broader strategy to shift accountability. The LG Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and governance while urging all stakeholders to focus on the welfare of the public.
