Delhi HC Asks AAP Govt To Increase Assistance To Aids Patients, Slams Them For Free Electricity And Water Scheme

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for giving free electricity and water to residents but providing very little assistance to patients suffering from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), according to Scroll.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation that was initiated after receiving a letter from an AIDS patient. The monthly allowance the government provides the victims is Rs 1000. The person who wrote the letter requested to increase the pension from Rs1000 to Rs 3000.

What Court Says

“Be realistic and reasonable,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said. “If you do not have money, then do not give things like water and electricity free to people.”

Court-appointed amicus curiae Ajay Verma said that other places like Kerala, Gujarat have various benefits that have been provided to AIDS patients like free public transport and access to subsidised food. Delhi government lacks in such initiatives. The Delhi government’s lawyer, Gautam Narayan, in turn, told the bench that the administration was deliberating on the issue.

The high court then asked the government counsel to place the results of the deliberations before it on March 14, the next date of the hearing, as reported by Scroll.