HC dismisses PILs seeking suspension of EC order deferring Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice A. Rajashekar Reddy, after hearing the PILs, refused to interfere with the EC order as the Commission has the power to ensure free and fair polls.

Dealing with three Public Interest Litigations (PILs), the court declined to interfere with the Election Commission's order on the ground that the poll panel has Constitutional powers to ensure free and fair polls. The Bench dismissed the PILs filed by journalist Mallepalli Laxmaiah, NGO Watch Voice, and Congress leader B. Judson. The court, which had reserved its order in the case on Monday, pronounced the same on Thursday.

It may be mentioned that the Election Commission on 18 October had directed the state government to defer the implementation of the scheme till the completion of the by-election to be held on 30 October.

On 16 August, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had launched the scheme aimed at empowering Dalits in the state. The scheme was launched at Salapalli village in the Huzurabad Assembly constituency of Karimnagar district. The scheme offers Rs. 10 lakh to each Dalit family to help them become financially reliant.

The petitioners, however, challenged the ECI order on the ground that the scheme was launched before the announcement of the poll schedule. They alleged that the poll panel abruptly stopped the scheme at the alleged instance of some political parties.

Counsel for one of the petitioners had told the court that the ECI's decision has come as a rude shock and a serious setback to Dalits, especially the unemployed youth. Standing counsel for the ECI, however, had informed the court that the implementation of the scheme was stopped only in the Huzurabad constituency and not in others.