NEITEO KOZA Vs. STATE OF NAGALAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant Public Interest Litigation has been filed by the Petitioner seeking directions for removing the ceiling of benefits capped under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (for short "JSSK Scheme") in the State of Nagaland and to ensure that the pregnant women and sick newborn are given various benefits in terms with JSSK Scheme as well as other consequential directions.

(2.) It is seen from the records that in respect to the said JSSK Scheme, earlier another Public Interest Litigation was filed which was registered and numbered as PIL No.19/2017. This Court after taking into account the JSSK Scheme and hearing the parties disposed of the same with the directions which have been mentioned in paragraph

(3.) Pursuant to the said judgment and order dtd. 27/5/2019, a notification was issued on 24/6/2019 by the State Health Society, National Health Mission, Government of Nagaland whereby entitlements provided in the Scheme were quantified in money against each of the benefits which were provided by the JSSK Scheme. The Petitioner thereupon had approached this Court stating that this capping of the benefits by quantifying it with money is not only meager to the actual expenses which a pregnant women or a new born child would have to spent and as such, the benefits of the JSSK Scheme have been taken away by the said notification dtd. 24/6/2019. It is under such circumstances, the instant Public Interest Litigation has been filed.