Kerala’s government breathed a sigh of relief as the Supreme Court intervened decisively, lifting the Kerala High Court’s stay on the ‘Nava Kerala Survey’. This Tuesday ruling empowers the state to advance its initiative to collect vital data on the reach and impact of welfare schemes.
The controversy erupted when KSU activists filed pleas accusing the survey of being an election-time political ploy funded illicitly from public coffers. The High Court agreed, striking it down for lacking legitimate budgetary provisions and approvals.
Undeterred, the government escalated the issue to the nation’s top court. There, Kapil Sibal championed the state’s case, underscoring governments’ inherent right to monitor welfare delivery and compile administrative data.
The apex court concurred wholeheartedly. Governments pour crores into schemes; they must evaluate outcomes, the bench asserted. It challenged the stay’s rationale: Is data collection for program assessment inherently wrong?
Highlighting that political rhetoric alone cannot paralyze governance, the court advocated judicial restraint in non-constitutional matters.
In a balanced directive, the Supreme Court allowed continuation but ordered Kerala to submit an expenditure breakdown nearing Rs 20 crore. Hearing adjourned to April 13.
This development reinforces administrative flexibility for data-driven governance, amid ongoing debates on electoral transparency and public spending.