“Reduction of welfare expenses is unconstitutional” dismissing the appeal Nagoya District Court June 25, 18:17
The Nagoya District Court held a lawsuit against local governments for gradual reduction of welfare costs from 2013 in line with the revision of standards by the national government. Dismissed the complaint, saying that "it cannot be said that the judgment of the country was illegal." Similar lawsuits have been filed across the country, but for the first time ever a judicial decision was presented.
Of the welfare expenses, the national government reduced the maximum amount of 10% for the standard amount of living expenses, such as food expenses and utility expenses, by 2013 or 2015, due to falling prices.
Eighteen men and women in Aichi prefecture asked for compensation from the government and said that they would violate the constitution that guaranteed the minimum amount of livelihood, as well as the municipality, regarding the reduction of welfare costs by the municipality based on this standard amount. I was asking for cancellation. In the trial, there was a dispute over whether the reduction of the standard amount was beyond the national discretion.
In a ruling on the 25th, the Nagoya District Court's presiding judge, Masaki Sumiya, said, ``Although no expert verification has been conducted on how to reflect the rate of decline in prices in the standard of payment of welfare costs, it is the national procedure. I can't say I made a mistake."
In addition, he dismissed the complaint, saying, "There is no error or omission in the process of national judgment regarding the calculation of the rate of price decline, and it is not illegal."
Class action lawsuits have been filed in 29 courts nationwide for lowering the standard amount of welfare costs, but this is the first time a judicial decision has been made.
Plaintiff side "extremely unjust judgment"
Hironori Mori, a plaintiff who had a press conference after the judgment, said, "The judgment allows the country wide discretion, and it is a very unfair judgment that entrusts the country with the survival or death of recipients of welfare."
Also, one of the plaintiffs, a woman in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, said, "Since the reduction of welfare costs, we have been patient, such as reducing utility costs.
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare "Insistence accepted"
Regarding the ruling, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare commented, "The national assertion that the revision of the standard of welfare was legal was accepted."