The Delhi High Court on Tuesday questioned how the city government is able to provide free water and electricity to those who have a roof over their head when it can’t afford to pay sufficient monthly pension to the poor suffering from AIDS.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar expressed displeasure at the nominal amount of ₹1,000 per month being given as pension to AIDS patients.
“Be realistic and reasonable. If you do not have money, then do not give things free to people,” the Bench said.
The court’s observation came on a plea initiated by it after receiving a letter from an AIDS victim who wrote a letter seeking enhancement of pension from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.
Advocate Ajay Verma, appointed as amicus curiae by the court in the matter, told the Bench that States such as Kerala and Gujarat have several schemes and benefits like free travel on public transport and access to subsidised food. Mr. Verma said that Delhi has no such assistance to offer AIDS victims.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 14.
