Delhi HC refuses urgent hearing of plea against AAP poll promise

Delhi High Court refuses urgent hearing of plea against AAP's ₹2,100 monthly stipend promise, citing lack of grounds.

The Delhi High Court on Monday (January 20, 2025) refused to urgently hear a plea against the AAP’s poll promise of a monthly stipend of ₹2,100 to women under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana scheme in the national capital.

Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the plea for an “early disposal” of the petition observing there was no ground to allow the request.

The petitioner’s counsel urged the court to hear the petition urgently as AAP was still publicising the scheme to attract voters. Delhi goes to polls on February 5 with counting scheduled on February 8.

On January 10, the court deferred hearing the petition to month end after no one appeared on the petitioner’s behalf despite the matter being called out thrice.

The court had questioned the petitioner, one Vijay Kumar, on the maintainability of his plea being filed as an “election petition”.

The petitioner said AAP was luring voters with a false announcement as Delhi government had already denied having such a scheme.

The petitioner’s counsel said his client filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India over the alleged false announcement by the ruling party in Delhi to pay a Rs 2,100 monthly stipend to women having Delhi voter IDs.