New Delhi, February 28: The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it will proceed with the implementation of the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) in the national capital, marking a significant policy shift following the recent political transition in the city.
Appearing before a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and P K Mishra, the counsel representing the Delhi government sought permission to withdraw its Special Leave Petition (SLP) that had earlier challenged the Delhi High Court's directive dated December 24, 2024. The High Court had instructed the government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by January 5, 2025, to implement the scheme in full.
"We are going ahead with the implementation of the scheme, and therefore, we now seek to withdraw this petition," stated the Delhi government's counsel. The Supreme Court bench permitted the withdrawal, effectively resolving the legal stand-off.
Earlier, on January 17, the Supreme Court had temporarily stayed the High Court’s directive and sought responses from the central government and other stakeholders on the Delhi government's plea. The original petition had argued that the PM-ABHIM scheme, designed primarily to serve rural areas and the country's interiors, was not ideally suited for Delhi's urban healthcare needs. The Delhi government had highlighted that it already operated 529 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, each staffed by qualified and registered medical practitioners.
However, the Delhi High Court had insisted on the scheme's comprehensive implementation to ensure that the residents of the national capital were not deprived of essential healthcare funding and facilities. Noting that 33 states and Union Territories had already embraced PM-ABHIM, the court emphasized that Delhi could not remain excluded.
"This MoU shall be signed irrespective of the model code of conduct, if any, as it is monitored by this court and is for the benefit of citizens of Delhi," the High Court’s order had clearly stated.
The decision of the Delhi government to align with the central scheme follows closely on the heels of the recent Assembly elections, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a victory over the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
With the legal dispute now resolved, the PM-ABHIM scheme is set to enhance healthcare infrastructure and services significantly in Delhi, aligning with national healthcare priorities.