High Court Asks Delhi Govt To File 'Future Roadmap' For Providing Ration To Non-PDS Beneficiaries

The Delhi High Court today asked the Delhi Government to file a statement, indicating a "future roadmap" for ensuring that poor, needy and marginalized non-PDS beneficiaries have access to adequate food grains. The Court said that the statement may also indicate the measures that have already been taken by the Government.

The development comes in a PIL filed by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan, challenging the limit of 20 lakh beneficiaries put by the Delhi Government with regard to distribution of food grains to people without ration cards, amid Covid-19.

Whereas Additional Standing Counsel for Delhi Government, Anuj Aggarwal, submitted that the said cap has been done away with following the High Court's order dated June 25, the Petitioner's counsel Prasanna S claimed that the stocks availability for non-PDS system is "extremely low".

COVID- One Time Relief Measure: Cap of 20 Lakh Beneficiaries for Distribution of Non-PDS Ration Arbitrary and Ad-hoc, Says Delhi High Court

Though claim to have removed the 20 lakh beneficiaries cap, certainly there appears to be some kind of cap that they are working under, Prasanna submitted.

At this juncture, the Court asked the Delhi Government to file a statement indicating the steps taken so far and the way forward, in the matter of ensuring food for all.

The Court also modified its order directing all ration shops to remain operational and disburse PDS food grains on all seven days of the week.

Noting that the Government does not have any objection to the request made on behalf of fair-price shop dealers, the Court ordered thus:

"The Petitioner submits that now the prevailing pandemic situation is not so grave as was when the order dated April 27, 2020 was passed and hence, at least a day's weekly off for the fair price shop dealers be allowed and to that extent our order dated 24.04.2020 be modified. The Government does not have an objection to this request. Hence, the request is allowed. Weekly off is permitted."

The matter is now fixed for October 22.

Case Title: Delhi Rozi Roti Abhiyan v. Union of India