[Covid-19] Info On Govt's Welfare Schemes Are Not In Public Domain, Madras HC Directs Govt.To Collate All Information On Schemes [Read Order]

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed all Governmental Authorities to provide the Welfare Schemes that are in vogue, including the ones announced during the COVID pandemic, to the Office of the Additional Advocate General for the state of Tamil Nadu.

The Madurai seat of the High Court called upon the AAG to collate all these Welfare Schemes and submit the same as soft copy to the Court. The Court undertook to place those Schemes in public domain, "so that, people are made aware of them and they can approach the Governmental Authorities and the District Legal Services Authority to get benefits under the Scheme applicable to them".

The division bench of the high court was hearing the grievance of a writ petitioner that the COVID-19 pandemic relief had not reached the unorganised labourers in the State.

The bench, however, took note of the submissions of the AAG in refuting the charge and enumerating various Welfare Schemes of the State Government, prior to and during COVID-19 pandemic, for ameliorating poverty in the State.

"He contended that the State Government has established 15 Boards, through which, 14,07,130 labourers were paid Rs.1,000/- as per G.O.(Ms).No.83, Labour and Employment Department, dated 08.04.2020. The second installment of Rs.1,000/- was also paid to 14,07,130 labourers under G.O.(Ms).No.86, Labour and Employment Department, dated 17.04.2020", recorded the Court.

"We do place on record our appreciation for the Government for the above disbursals. But, we find that the Schemes referred to by the learned Additional Advocate General are not available in public domain", remarked the bench.

Click here to download the Order