In a recent development, the Supreme Court has called for responses from the office of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, and other concerned parties regarding a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The petition seeks the release of funds for the "Farishtey Dilli Ke" scheme, initiated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2019.

The petition, brought before a panel of Justices B R Gavai and Sudhanshu Dhulia, addresses concerns over intergovernmental disputes, expressing bewilderment at the conflicts within different wings of the government. The bench issued a notice, formally notifying the Lieutenant Governor and relevant health services authorities to respond to the plea.

The "Farishtey Dilli Ke" scheme, launched in 2017 as a pilot initiative, aims to encourage individuals to assist in road accident situations. Participants are rewarded with Rs 2,000 and a certificate for transporting accident victims to the hospital. Notably, these Good Samaritans are exempt from police questioning, and the government covers hospital bills for accident victims within the city.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj raised concerns in October, alleging a potential conspiracy to hinder the scheme. He claimed that payments to private hospitals, due for almost a year, had not been disbursed. Bharadwaj wrote a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging action against officials responsible for the delay.

During a recent hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, emphasized the scheme's significant impact, covering 23,000 road accidents. Singhvi expressed frustration over halted payments despite continuous communication and requests. He questioned the health matters' management under the Lieutenant Governor, stressing the initiative's non-political, welfare-focused nature.

Case: Government of NCT of Delhi and anr vs Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and ors.