Peopleæs Union For Civil Liberties vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of modifying the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS) and the introduction of the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). The Court held that the NMBS cannot be discontinued or modified without prior approval, emphasizing the need to maintain social assistance entitlements for expecting BPL mothers. The Court directed the government to ensure that benefits under NMBS continue while improving the JSY to better serve women opting for home deliveries, thus reinforcing the rights of beneficiaries under Article 21.