Skip to main content

Disappointed, dismayed at lack of Delhi govt effort to distribute ration to all: High Court

By Our Representative
The Delhi High Court bench comprising Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh., hearing a petition filed by the Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyaan (DRRAA), regarding ensuring access to ration during the Covid-19 lockdown, has said that it is “disappointed” and “dismayed” at lack of compliance with its direction on distributing ration for all.
The High Court observation follows directions it gave during earlier two hearings (April 27 and May 6) regarding distribution of foodgrains during the lockdown, asking the Delhi government to ensure that all ration shops disbursing foodgrains are open during working hours from 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to7 pm on all seven days, and that foodgrains are also distributed to the poor, needy and marginalized non-public distribution system (PDS) residents.
It also asked the state government to monitor the distribution of foodgrains through the concerned sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) of each district and upload the details of shop-wise disbursement of ration at the end of each day, and publicizing the compliance to its directions in the print and electronic media on a daily basis.
Asking the state government to “immediately place” on its website grievance helpline numbers, the High Court had futher said, it should also install complaint boxes at all the ration shops and non-PDS distribution centres.
During the hearing on May 18, DRRAA, represented through advocates Sanjay Parikh and Prasanna S, said that the system adopted by the government of issuing e-coupons to those who do not have ration cards was inaccessible to the most vulnerable, as it required a smart phone. They do not have access to internet, are unable to generate OTP, upload photos of the family and a copy of the aadhaar and finally to download the e-coupon, the court was told.
Further, the advocates said, the complaints helplines numbers (1967 and 1800110841) designated by the Delhi government were “inaccessible”, and that despite the orders of the court, volunteers of DRRAA had found many ration shops shut during working hours. 
In violation of the Delhi High Court’s direction, no details of action taken on complaints was available in the public domain
Meanwhile, it was pointed out, the government was uploading only total number of ration cardholders/ e-coupon holders who had been distributed rations, without disclosing details of who had received, how much rations. “In violation of the court’s direction, no details of action taken on complaints was available in the public domain”, the advocates argued in the court.
The High Court said it was “disappointed and dismayed” as the state government has not complied with its directions. On the issue of ensuring rations for all those who need it, the judges commented that the e-coupon system was not appropriate as it was inaccessible for people.
Questioning how people were expected to access the system, Justice Mridual asked whether the government was providing free public wi-fi all over Delhi. He added, the court didn’t want a single person in Delhi to go hungry, directomg the government to immediately start distributing rations to needy persons.
The Court directed the secretary-cum food commissioner of the Delhi government to file a detailed compliance report regarding its directions of April 27 and May 6 within 4 days. It also directed that the government must immediately start providing grains to all those who need it and has now listed the matter to be heard on May 26.

Comments

TRENDING

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra*  The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas*  In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam*  The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk  As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Savarkar 'opposed' Bhagat Singh's, Netaji's dream of India, supported British war efforts

By Shamsul Islam* In a shocking development, the student wing of the RSS put the busts of martyrs Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose with Savarkar's on one pedestal at the University of Delhi late in the night on August 20, 2019. Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for a socialist-democratic-secular republic and Netaji raised Azad Hind Fauj (INA) consisting of people of all religions and regions for armed liberation of India.

Undermining law, breastfeeding? Businesses 'using' celebrities to promote baby food

By Rajiv Shah  A report prepared by the top child welfare NGO, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), has identified as many as 15 offenders allegedly violating the Indian baby food law, the Infant Milk Substitutes Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, and Amendment Act 2003 (IMS Act), stating, compliance with the law “seems to be dwindling by the day.”