The Andhra Pradesh High Court has given a sensational verdict regarding the payment of employment guarantee scheme bills. The court, which heard the matter on Tuesday, passed a judgment to clear the payment of bills for 1013 petitions. Central Government released its share in these bills and AP Government diverted those funds to other schemes.
The court has ordered the government to pay the entire amount of bills within four weeks. The High Court has struck down a circular issued by the government to reduce bills by 20 percent. The court further ordered the government for immediate payment of arrears with 12 percent interest.
The High Court ruled that the bills should be paid within four weeks and that if some were already paid, the rest would have to be paid at 12 percent interest. These bills were pending from Chandrababu Naidu’s regime. Making allegations of corruption, the Government did not clear them.
Experts analyze this move of the Government as an intention to hit the financial roots of the TDP supports. “Most of these are TDP supporters and non-payment of the bills will kill them financially and thereby will weaken the Opposition party,” analysts said of the Government’s move back then.
But then, the cash-strapped state has to pay these bills with interest and that too in four weeks which will be a massive burden.
