New Delhi: The Supreme Court temporarily stayed a Delhi High Court order directing the Delhi government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) scheme in Delhi.
The bench, led by Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, issued a notice seeking the Centre’s response to the Delhi government’s plea. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, questioned whether the court could force the state to sign the MoU, pointing out that the agreement would require Delhi to bear 40% of capital costs, while the Centre would cover none of the operational expenses.
The Delhi High Court had earlier ruled that the MoU should be signed before January 5, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in place for the Assembly elections. The High Court’s decision followed a 2017 PIL concerning health infrastructure in government hospitals.
