Distribute Rs 1,000 Pongal gift only to below poverty line people: Madras HC to TN govt

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Wednesday stayed distribution of a Pongal gift of Rs 1,000 in cash to all ration card holders by the Tamil Nadu government. It restrained the government from distributing the money to people other than those below poverty line.“How can you give Rs 1,000 to all ration card holders and call it policy decision? It's not your party money for us not to raise questions. It is government money. One can understand if Pongal gifts are given to people the below poverty line, and it's not wrong. But what's the intention behind giving away Rs 1,000 to all ration card holders? Already reeling under big financial burden, it will only increase the burden on the state government,” said a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam.Why judges of the high court and advocate general of Tamil Nadu would need Rs 1,000 free Pongal money from the government, asked the bench. “Why are you splurging government money in the name of Pongal. If political parties give away their money we will not raise these questions,” the court said.“Are you distributing this money without even completing the cyclone Gaja relief measures? The government can do a lot using this money, including improvement of infrastructure,” the court said.The bench passed the interim order on a plea moved by activist J Daniel Jesudass challenging the government's decision to provide the gift to all the ration card holders irrespective of their financial status.