SC upholds MPLADS scheme

It's a matter of huge relief for Members of Parliament. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the 2 crores they each get every year for the development of their constituencies under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

The court allegations that the funds are prone to be misused is not reason enough to scrap the scheme.

The MPLADS scheme came under judicial scrutiny after a sting operation in 2005 showed some MPs allegedly demanding money from contractors to award work for projects under MPLAD scheme. The expose led to the expulsion of members from
both Houses of Parliament.

The scheme was first challenged in 1999 by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh and an NGO, Common Cause, alleging that in the absence of any guidelines, the funds allocated under the scheme were misused by MPs.

Later, petitions were also filed in various high courts. The government intervened, and the different petitions were then all transferred to the Supreme Court.

The court accepted that the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have committees to monitor the scheme, and that there are various levels of accountability for its correct implementation.

The court said the scheme has helped local development, providing facilities like water, electricity, and libraries to different parts of the country.

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