A PIL was submitted to the Delhi High Court on Thursday, requesting instructions to incorporate traditional Indian healthcare practices like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy into the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

A panel consisting of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela has served notices to various government bodies, including the Ministry of Ayush, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Delhi Government.

The court has requested them to provide their response to the PIL within a span of eight weeks and has scheduled the matter for further deliberation on January 29, 2024.

In the PIL filed by practicing lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, it is contended that India, a nation steeped in the traditions of sages, possesses abundant evidence of this heritage in various scriptures, such as Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads. Regrettably, it points out that due to policies instituted by foreign rulers and individuals with a colonial mindset, India's cultural, intellectual, and scientific legacy has suffered systematic erosion over the years.

The plea also highlights the significant healthcare initiative undertaken by the Government of India, known as "Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)," which was recommended by the National Health Policy 2017.

The initiative has been formulated with the aim of aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its fundamental commitment to "leave no one behind." However, it's crucial to underline that a significant component of this endeavor, Ayurveda (Ayush), has been excluded from it, as per the statement.

In the plea, Upadhyay has emphasized that Ayurveda, despite being an integral part of the program, is noticeably absent in its execution. The plea has requested the court to instruct both the central and state governments to incorporate the Indian healthcare system, including Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, into the National Health Protection Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)—Ayushman Bharat. This is being sought in order to ensure the citizens' right to health.

Case: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors.