Jan Suraaj Party Moves Supreme Court Challenging Scheme Providing ₹10k To Women During Bihar Election

The political party founded by Prashant Kishore, Jan Suraaj, has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the state-wide scheme for women known as “Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana” wherein the Government of Bihar decided to provide financial help, through Direct Benefit Transfer, to one woman in every family by paying Rs.10,000/- to start self- employment.

A writ petition is filed by the Party under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking the issuance of writ of issue writ of Mandamus, declaring the fresh addition of beneficiaries in the “Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana”, and payment to them in course of election as illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to Articles 14, 21, 112, 202 and 324 of the Constitution of India.

The matter is likely to be listed tomorrow before the Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The Plea also seeks directions to the Election Commission of India to take appropriate action under Article 324 of Constitution of India and Section 123 of Representation of Peoples Act on Direct Benefit Transfer of Rs. 10,000 to 25-35 lakhs women voters during subsistence of M.C.C and in course of elections and thereafter as gratification/bribery/corrupt practices to benefit party in power in the State.

In August 2025, the Government of Bihar, on the eve of the general assembly elections 2025, launched “Mukhayamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana” (MMRY). The main objective was to provide financial support to one woman per family in Bihar to start a self-employment activity. The scheme stated that Rs 10,000 as the first instalment will be provided to all eligible women applicants who are members of Jeevika Self Help Groups, and further, additional assistance of Rs 2 lacs each will be provided by the government post assessment, however, after 6 months. The scheme benefits were to be given to women who were already registered with JEEVIKA; however, fresh applications for joining the self-help group were also invited.

The Plea says, "The petitioner most respectfully submits that the then Government of Bihar resorted to corrupt practices to induce and allure the electors to vote in its favour by extending the benefit of Rs. 10,000/- each to be followed by Rs.2,00,000/- to new beneficiaries added post announcement of MCC and in course of elections; and the ECI failed miserably to put a check on such corrupt practices being adopted by the ruling party in the course of election schedule because of which it is humbly submitted that the election was vitiated as the other contestants/parties to the elections were deprived of level playing field which is a sheer violation of MCC, the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 (“RPA”) and Articles 14 21 and 324 of the Constitution of India."

It also alleges, "It is most respectfully submitted that in course of elections and subsistence of M.C.C, new beneficiaries were added in the JEEVIKA and payments of Rs 10,000 were made to them. That the fresh addition to the DBT Scheme of estimated 25-35 lacs women voters during elections and same violates the principle of free and fair elections and principle of level playing field. The action of the State Government is an act actuated with malice to damage electoral prospects of the other parties and contenders and that the ECI failed miserably to put a check upon such corrupt practices being resorted to by the ruling government and has not followed guidelines issued by this Hon’ble Court and also its own guidelines dated 07.01.07 in compendium of Instructions Vol-III."

It further states that about 1.80 lac women members (beneficiaries) of the self-help group i.e JEEVIKA were deputed on polling booths as Volunteers in both phases of polling which has no basis, as JEEVIKA members (beneficiaries) are a non-government group and that most of them were beneficiaries of the DBT scheme, thus, their deputation on the polling booth can’t be called natural, fair and reasonable but were deputed for obvious reasons.

"This action alone may shock the conscience of any common man to assume that such volunteers who had recently received the benefits under a Scheme, would be obviously biased in favour of the ruling Party, thereby influencing the election process and making it unfair", the petition says.

It is also alleged, "That the ECI failed to check that the instalment of DBT scheme were rolled out even on the date of proclamation of the M.C.C and announcement of election schedule in Bihar and even thereafter, during the course of election. DBT transfers were made even on days prior to polling, further, the ECI also failed to check that under the scheme in issue new beneficiaries were added during election process and the newly added beneficiaries number around 25-35 lacs (estimated) were added and paid Rs 10,000 each after proclamation of M.C.C and thereafter, which purely amounts to Bribery and thus, is a corrupt practice as envisaged under Section 123 of the R.P.A."

The Petition further prays for the direction in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus and declares deployment of 1.80 lac women beneficiaries hailing from the self-help group JEEVIKA on the polling booth in both phases of polling as illegal and unfair, and to declare that the result of Assembly Election 2025, in issue, as null and void and to hold fresh and free and fair elections for Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Cause Title: Jan Suraaj Party v. The Election Commission of India and Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 107/2026]