Jan Seva Welfare Society v. Government Of NCT Of Delhi And ANR

$~65 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 13491/2025 JAN SEVA WELFARE SOCIETY .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Aniket Arora, Mr. Yogesh Goel, Mr. Shikhar Singh and Mr. Aryan Singh, Advocates.

versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents Through:

Mr. Sameer Vashisht, Standing Counsel (Civil) with Mr. Manashwy Jha and Ms.

Harshita Nathrani, Advocates for GNCTD.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA

O R D E R

% 03.09.2025 1.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2.

This public interest litigation petition has been filed with the prayer to issue a direction to the respondents to release the pending subsidy amount of Rs. 48.36 Crore to all eligible beneficiaries under the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy, 2020.

3.

Replying to the contentions raised in this writ petition on behalf of the petitioner, Shri Vashisht, learned Standing Counsel representing the GNCTD has drawn our attention to a reply dated 31.07.2025 given by the Public Information Officer of the Transport Department to the petitioner on an application made under the Right to Information Act, 2005 and has submitted that as per the policy, till date a total number of 78,158 beneficiaries have W.P.(C) 13491/2025 Page 1 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

received the subsidy, which amounts to Rs. 179.35 Crores. The reply dated 31.07.2025 also states that subsidy is still pending to the tune of Rs. 48.36 Crores.

4.

Shri Vashisht, learned Standing Counsel representing the GNCTD has also stated that some delay, which is occurring, has been explained in the reply dated 31.07.2025, according to which, the delay in subsidy disbursement has occurred on account of ongoing process of setting up a new bank account for direct subsidy payments. The reply further states that the Transport Department of GNCTD is currently seeking approval from the Finance Department to finalize the setting up a new bank account and once it is approved, disbursement process shall be quicker and more efficient, which shall ensure timely payments.

5.

What we noticed from the reply contained in the letter dated 31.07.2025 is that the government is taking shield of the fact that the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy, 2020 does not provide any fixed timeline for disbursement of subsidy. Such a ground, in our opinion, is not available for the government not to finalize and disburse the subsidy to the beneficiaries, who are eligible under the scheme.

6.

We accordingly, disposed of this writ petition with the direction to the GNCTD to immediately take all steps required for setting up the new bank account for direct subsidy payments by according requisite approvals from all the departments including the Finance Department. It is not that the government does not have funds to disburse the subsidy amount, it is only because of the procedural delay of setting up a new bank, which perhaps is causing concern amongst the beneficiaries on account of non-timely disbursement of the subsidy.

7.

In the aforesaid view, we expect that the procedural delay shall W.P.(C) 13491/2025 Page 2 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

immediately be attended to and accordingly, after setting up the new bank account with the approval of all requisite departments, the payment shall immediately start.

8.

The writ petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 kct W.P.(C) 13491/2025 Page 3 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.