Telangana High Court modifies stay on marriage assistance schemes

The Telangana High Court has modified an earlier interim stay on the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak marriage assistance schemes, granting partial relief to differently-abled brides. While the stay on general disbursements remains in place, the court carved out an exemption for differently-abled women, allowing them to receive the additional 25 percent financial assistance provided under Government Order 4, which is grounded in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

During the proceedings, the court questioned the practice of involving Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the distribution of welfare cheques. The bench noted that there appears to be no statutory or constitutional mandate requiring elected representatives to personally hand over funds drawn from the public exchequer, suggesting that executive officials are already equipped to handle beneficiary selection and distribution. The court emphasized that all public spending must have solid legal or statutory backing and should be free from political interference.

Beyond the specific schemes, the court raised broader social concerns, questioning the state's responsibility toward vulnerable populations, including homeless women and children found begging on streets.