New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Odisha Government over the launch of Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), providing direct cash transfer benefits to the small and marginal farmers and sharecroppers, prior to declaration of election schedule.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the Election Commission, Union of India, and Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Telangana Governments directing them to file their response on a petition filed by Dr Pentapati Pullarao of Telangana questioning the constitutional validity of announcement and implementation of direct cash transfer benefit schemes implemented prior to declaration of election schedule.
The petitioner also contended that just before the enforcement of model code of conduct the State Governments and Centre started the direct cash transfer schemes to influence voters.