COVID: Delhi High Court Seeks Reply On Plea For Declaring Fair Price Shop Dealers As Frontline Workers

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to file its reply on a petition seeking declaration of Fair price shop dealers as frontline workers amid Covid-19 pandemic. The petition has been filed by the filed by Delhi Ration Dealers Union.

The petitioners, a union of 70 fair price shop owners, submit that due to pandemic, ration shop dealers/ Fair Price shop owners were ordered to distribute ration to eligible ration card holders and other needy persons, free of cost. They were also obligated to open the shops for all seven days as per the order Delhi Commissioner. Their work includes day-to-day public dealing and ensure that no person is deprived of necessities, owing to which they are highly vulnerable to contracting the virus.

Thus, it is stated that fair price shop dealers should be declared as essential front-line workers during COVID-19 and all benefits thereof should be extended to them.

"Now a days vaccines are available for everyone above the age of 18. Then what is the need for this?" a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh asked the Petitioner at the outset.

To this, Advocate Yash Aggarwal responded citing shortage of vaccine availability in the State. "Vaccines are still not in adequate quantity," he said. That apart, Aggarwal added, "Frontline workers get monetary benefits if someone in their family dies. So, through this we seek all such benefits."

The petitioners specifically pray for benefits including but not limited to insurance in death; coverage of medical expenses; supply of essential items like masks and sanitizers; etc. They also urge that a civil defense volunteer should be deputed at each FPS to manage the crowd and ensure social distancing.

Notice on the petition was issued on May 19, 2021.

On Friday, GNCTD counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi told the Bench that the decision to declare any class of persons as frontline workers can be taken by the National Disaster Management Authority.

Accordingly, the Court has granted some time to the Respondent to file a written reply. The matter is kept for hearing on September 6. 

Case Title: Delhi Ration Dealers Union & Ors v. Government of NCT Delhi & Ors.