The Delhi High Court on Friday Granted 10 days to the Transport Department to clear the balance list by depositing a sum of Rs.5,000/- into bank accounts of the eligible non-chip Public Service Vehicle badge holders in a PIL seeking directions to the Transport Department of the Delhi Government to provide onetime financial benefit of Rs.5,000/- to lifetime PSV badge holders amid COVID-19 outbreak.
A divisional bench presided by Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramoniium Prasad of Delhi High Court while hearing a matter through video conferencing noted that “…already enough time has been taken by the Transport Department to release the assistance package as the scheme was announced in early April 2020 and now, it is already the end of May 2020. There was enough time for the Department to have processed all the applications and released the funds to those who were eligible.”
The Public Interest Litigation has been filed by an NGO called Nayee Soch Society seeking direction to the Transport Department to provide a one-time financial benefit of Rs. 5000 to the lifetime PSV badge holders.
Counsel appearing for the NGO submitted that earlier on 2ndApril 2020 the Chief Minister of Delhi had announced onetime relief assistance package of Rs.5,000/- to auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw, and Gramin Sewa vehicle drivers, compensation for the loss that they would suffer on account of the lockdown declared by the Government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Transport Department submitted that it has identified 11780 applicants holding non-chip PSV badges through a separate web portal developed for such applicants and out of the said 11780 eligible applicants, a sum of Rs.5,000/- has already been deposited directly in the bank accounts of 4835 persons which include persons mentioned in para 15 of the writ petition.
Whereas, on inquiry by Court that by what time remain 4825 person list will be clear, counsel submitted that 15 days may be given.
-India Legal Bureau