Telangana HC Orders Interim Stay on Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak Schemes

The Telangana High Court has ordered an interim stay on eight Government Orders (GOs) governing the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes, temporarily halting the disbursement of financial assistance under the flagship marriage-support programmes. The order brings renewed legal scrutiny to schemes that have supported lakhs of economically disadvantaged families since their launch in 2014.

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar passed the interim order on August 12 while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Vijay Gopal, who challenged the constitutional validity of the GOs through which the schemes were introduced and subsequently modified between 2014 and 2019. The state government had earlier been directed to file its counter-affidavit but sought further time without submitting it. The court has now posted the matter for September 9.

The core of the legal challenge is whether the state government could establish and expand such welfare programmes solely through executive orders without specific legislation passed by the Assembly. The petitioner contended that determining eligibility, financial assistance, age criteria and other conditions amounted to exercising legislative functions through executive action. The plea invokes constitutional provisions including Articles 245, 246, 162 and 13(2).

The petition has also raised questions over the use of public funds, citing around ₹13,485 crore spent between 2014-15 and 2025-26 under the schemes. It argues that expenditure from the State’s Consolidated Fund must comply with constitutional requirements governing appropriation and withdrawal of public money. Additional concerns have been raised over beneficiary classification and the exclusion of poor women outside the currently covered communities.

Introduced on October 2, 2014, Kalyana Lakshmi initially targeted SC and ST families, while Shaadi Mubarak was aimed at minority communities. Kalyana Lakshmi was later expanded to BC and EBC communities. The one-time assistance, initially ₹51,000, was subsequently increased to ₹75,116 and then ₹1,00,116. Official Telangana data shows the schemes had become a major welfare programme, with Shaadi Mubarak alone recording 2,97,403 beneficiaries and ₹2,550.32 crore in assistance through 2023-24.

The schemes were intended to reduce the financial burden of marriage on poor families, with eligibility generally linked to the bride being at least 18 years old and meeting income and community criteria.

The latest order, however, does not amount to scrapping the schemes permanently. It is an interim measure pending further arguments and the state’s response. The September 9 hearing is expected to provide greater clarity on whether the government can defend the programmes’ constitutional and legal foundations.