BJP MPs Urge Delhi HC to Enforce Ayushman Bharat Scheme in NCT

The MPs' petition emphasizes that Delhi residents should be provided access to healthcare under AB-PMJAY on par with citizens in other parts of India.

In a recent move, all seven BJP Members of Parliament (MPs) from Delhi have approached the Delhi High Court, urging it to mandate the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

According to ANI, the MPs’ plea seeks court intervention to direct the Delhi Government and the Department of Health and Family Welfare to take necessary steps for rolling out the healthcare scheme in Delhi, as is done in other states and Union Territories.

The MPs' petition emphasizes that Delhi residents should be provided access to healthcare under AB-PMJAY on par with citizens in other parts of India.

The petitioners argue that, beyond their official roles as lawmakers in the 17th Lok Sabha, they are concerned residents advocating for improved healthcare access in the capital. They believe the scheme would significantly benefit Delhi’s vulnerable and low-income residents.

The plea notes that the Government of NCT of Delhi had pledged in its 2020-2021 Budget Speech to implement AB-PMJAY. However, the MPs argue that this promise has remained unfulfilled, allegedly due to inaction on the part of the Delhi government.

According to the petition, the lack of implementation constitutes a violation of citizens' constitutional rights under Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).

AB-PMJAY: India’s Largest Health Assurance Scheme

Launched on September 23, 2018, AB-PMJAY is the world’s largest health assurance initiative. Part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, it provides health coverage of INR 5 Lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care through a network of empaneled healthcare providers.

The scheme primarily targets underprivileged households across India, aiming to alleviate healthcare expenses for vulnerable families.

As of October 2024, thirty-three states and UTs have already implemented AB-PMJAY, and Odisha has also recently considered its adoption.

Delhi remains the only Union Territory where the scheme is not operational, leaving many low-income families without access to this crucial health coverage. The plea highlights this as a unique and unfair deprivation for Delhi’s underprivileged residents.

The MPs argue that by not implementing AB-PMJAY, the Delhi government is effectively denying equitable healthcare access to its residents.

They claim that the inaction contradicts the basic right to health under the Constitution, thus warranting judicial intervention. The plea asks the High Court to ensure that the scheme is launched promptly in Delhi, enabling residents to avail themselves of the same healthcare benefits as residents in other parts of India.

The Delhi High Court will likely consider these arguments in its upcoming sessions, with potential implications for healthcare access and equity across the capital region.

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