High Court Directs Delhi Govt. & DLSA To File Response In Plea Seeking Continuation of Food Security Schemes For Those Without Ration Cards

A Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and S. Prasad heard the Application filed by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyaan (DRRAA) and directed GNCTD and DLSA to file a response to the plea within 3 weeks.

DRRAA was represented by Senior Advocate Sanjay Parikh and Advocate Prasanna S.

It was submitted in the petition that people were experiencing economic distress on account of the pandemic and therefore, the continuation of supply of dry rations to persons without ration cards, specially the vulnerable, poor and marginalized was sought.

Accordingly, the Delhi High Court had directed DLSA to examine the issue and submit a status report. In its status report, the DLSA had stated that there was no further requirement to give dry rations to people without ration cards and it also underlined the concerns about poor living conditions in night shelters.

In response to this status report, a supplementary affidavit was filed by DRRAA in October 2020.

"After the lockdown was lifted several persons had left Delhi for their native places and many have come back. The pandemic situation due to closure of so many workplaces, has resulted in people engaged in the informal sector and daily wage labour not being able to get jobs. Their suffering continues even after their returning to Delhi. But the problem of food was not confined to migrant labourers only."

It was further submitted that, "People in Delhi who had no ration cards also suffered equally and are still suffering. The GNCTD cannot say that all the 54 lakhs Non-PDS beneficiaries have left and therefore, there is no need to continue with providing them ration. The obligation of the State to provide food to the hungry and needy cannot come to an end abruptly when the fact of COVID on employment and generation of income has in fact become worse and is likely to continue for considerable time."

The Affidavit has also highlighted a recent advisory of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which had pointed out the need to ensure food security during the pandemic. Further, it is submitted in the Affidavit that the need for continuation of special measures to combat COVID induced economic distress has been taken into account by the government and Courts in various other cases as well.

The matter is now listed on December 4.