“DELHI HC DIRECTS DELHI GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT RATION IS PROVIDED TO EVERY PERSON IN NEED REGARDLESS OF E-COUPON SYSTEM”
On 6th May 2020 (Wednesday), Delhi HC directed the Delhi Govt. to ensure that each and every person should get the ration who is in need of food without the hurdles of e-coupon especially to those who are in dire need of food.
The Division bench of Justice Siddhath Mridal and Justice Talwant Singh further directed the Delhi Govt. to install the complaint boxes at all the ration shops, and designated schools and ensure that all the helplines numbers are functional.
The PIL has filed by Delhi Rozi-Roti Adhika Abhiyan, seeking implementation of the provisions of the National food Security Act regarding establishment of Grievance Redressal Committee to address the concerns of the public.
According to the petitioner implementation of NFSA including ration shops being shut during working hours, denial of food grain , lack of necessary grievance redressal are the reasons for the spread of violation, petitioner also says that non implementation of NFSA amounts to breach of duty which violates the Article 21 of the Indian constitution as it caused distress to a large number of people who are rendered helpless in this going pandemic , the petitioner also directed the Delhi Govt. to set up operationalise the accountability and grievance.
Redress system as envisaged u/s 14, 15,16 and 28 of the NFS Act 2013 in order to ensure ‘ NO ONE GOES HUNGRY’.
In yesterdays hearing , the petitioner submitted that the system of e-coupon to those who do not have ration cards was inaccessible.
The court directed the Govt. to file a detailed compliance report before the next date of hearing., the court also asked the Delhi Govt. to monitor the functioning of each ration shops through sub- Divisional Magistrates , and uploads date on disbursement of ration after each day.
Finally, the court said on the urgency of this matter that ‘NO ONE GOES HUNGRY’ , the Delhi Govt. also directed to publicize the helpline numbers, the govt. also upload the details of grievance officer and redressal procedure.
By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun
