Punjab High Court Questions Mandatory Voter ID Under Mukhy Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana

Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked Punjab government to explain why a Punjab Voter ID is mandatory for women seeking benefits under Mukhy Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana. The case has been put off for the government's reply.

A Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor asked for the explanation after a public interest litigation filed by Harbakhsh Charitable Society challenged the rule. The petitioner said a voter card could be one of many identity documents but wanted to know why it was made compulsory.

Under the scheme, eligible women from the general category get ₹1,000 per month and Scheduled Castes women get ₹1,500 per month. The Court has not cancelled the scheme, only asked for clarification.

The PIL also questioned the State's spending priorities, pointing out that the government cites money problems in legal cases about employee and pension dues while funding welfare schemes that carry a lot of regular cost. The petitioner said public money should be used in a clear and fair way.