Peopleã†S 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 should not 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 the benefits of NMBS continue alongside JSY, particularly in states with low institutional delivery rates, thereby reinforcing the legal principle that social welfare schemes must not be abridged without judicial oversight.