Supreme Court has granted a major relief to the Kerala government by overturning the High Court’s decision

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) stayed the Kerala High Court’s decision, which had set aside the approval of ₹20 crore for the Nava Kerala Citizens’ Response Program. This decision has provided a major relief to the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.

Paving the way for the continuation of the scheme, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the respondents, including the petitioners who appeared in the High Court on the state government’s appeal. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, stated that not a single penny has been disbursed to Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers in Kerala.

The Chief Justice stated that prima facie, there is nothing wrong with the state government using government employees to assess the impact of welfare schemes at the grassroots level. The defendants’ counsel had alleged that the government was using its own employees and party workers for public relations activities ahead of the elections.

On February 17, the High Court quashed the government order authorizing ₹20 crore for the Nava Kerala Citizens’ Response Program, terming it an abuse of executive power and a violation of rules. A bench headed by High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen expressed concern that budget allocations to departments were not being properly followed.

The court also noted that no explanation was given as to how a letter from CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan, calling on party members to participate in the program and register on the Social Volunteer Force portal, was issued well before the Cabinet decision and the government order.

The High Court made these observations while hearing separate petitions filed by Kochi resident Mubas MH and Kerala Students’ Union state unit president Aloysius Xavier, challenging the program and fund allocation.

The petitioners argued that the government was misusing public funds for the personal and political benefit of the ruling party or coalition. Hearing the petitions, the bench noted that the program had not been implemented before and was launched at a time when the assembly election schedule was about to be announced.