Shri Ganga NagarPublished: Sep 20, 2023 02:21:44 pm
Young advocate of Sri Ganganagar challenged the smartphone scheme- Rajasthan High Court also raised questions, now next hearing on 5th October
Young advocate of Sri Ganganagar challenged the smartphone scheme
Shri Ganga Nagar. Rajasthan High Court Jodhpur asked the state government why the order to give smartphone guarantee cards to the female heads of one crore Chiranjeevi card holding families should not be cancelled. Now this matter will be heard in the court on October 5. The division bench of Judge Vijay Bishnoi and Judge Yogendra Kumar Purohit gave this order on the petition of advocate Mudit Nagpal. Young advocate Nagpal is the son of Ajay Nagpal Sonu, former president of Arodvansh Trust society and student leader, resident of L Block, Sriganganagar.
Nagpal’s petition has challenged the August 21 order of the Planning Department, in which guidelines were issued regarding giving guarantee cards of smartphones with internet connectivity in compliance with the address given by the Chief Minister on the Independence Day celebrations. On behalf of the petitioner, senior advocate Vikas Balia and advocate Sanjit Purohit said that the scheme of giving guarantee cards for smartphones does not fall in the category of welfare activities and it also does not meet the provisions of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. The way the Smartphone Guarantee Card scheme has been promoted in compliance with the CM’s announcement made on Independence Day, clearly reflects the party’s underlying political agenda regarding the upcoming assembly elections. The division bench has asked Additional Advocate General Sandeep Shah to file a reply.
Guarantee of providing smartphone is under question
Guaranteeing to provide smartphones to one crore women will have a huge financial impact on the state economy and the state government budget. This proposal was not even approved in the State Budget and Appropriation Act. The order of the Planning Department is beyond its jurisdiction. It is also contrary to the provisions of the Rajasthan Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005 and the medium-term fiscal policy statement issued by the Government of Rajasthan for the year 2023-24.
The proposed guarantee cards are creating direct liability on the public exchequer of the State. The announcement has been made regardless of the background of the families of Chiranjeevi card holders. This will put a huge fiscal burden on the state exchequer.
