CM Jagan Mohan Reddy moved the state high court challenging the orders of the Election Commission of India to defer crediting of financial assistance into the accounts of farmers and students under DBT schemes.
The EC on Monday night stalled crediting of Rs 847.22 crore into the accounts of farmers towards agriculture input subsidy and another Rs 610.79 crore into the accounts of students towards post-matric scholarships under Jagananna Vidya Deevena scheme, till the completion of election process in the state.
In a lunch motion petition filed before the state high court, the Jagan government argued that the schemes under which financial assistance was being given were not new but ongoing schemes and hence, crediting of money into the accounts of beneficiaries could not be stopped. It said if the amount was not credited by May end, it would be lapsed, the state government’s counsel said.
Counsel for ECI said the Commission had not stopped the schemes, but only asked the government to defer the payment till the completion of elections next Monday.
“There is no need for release of money so urgently,” he said.
The high court said there was still 23 days to go for May end and the government could wait. It asked the government to give a clarification to the ECI and posted the hearing to Thursday, saying it would take up further hearing depending on the ECI response.
