Delhi govt 'refusal' to provide food to non-ration card holders: HC issues notice

By A Representative
The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi government on a petition to continue food security scheme for those without ration cards. The petitioner, Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyaan (DRRAA), challenged the state’s alleged discontinuance of the scheme of distribution of food grain to non-ration card holders, in vogue for two months, said this is in violation of the right to food and right to life of lakhs of residents of the city amidst Covid-19 crisis.
Insisting that the “discontinuance” has taken place despite “directions” the Court, the petitioner, represented by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and Prasanna S, said, in April 2020, the Delhi government under the Mukhya Mantri Corona Sahayta Yojna (MMCSY) set up the e-coupon system for giving rations to 10 lakh people, which was subsequently revised to 30 lakh people not covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
However, on on June 9, 2020 the state government issued an order to close all hunger relief centres which were providing hot cooked meals free of cost. The result is, lakhs of people, especially those in the informal sector, have been left with no food security net at a time when they are struggling to find employment.
While the Government of India extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) till November 2020 for the existing ration cardholders for an additional 5 kg grains per person and 1 kg of pulse per household free of cost, and the Delhi government began to implement this, the petition said, not providing rations to others merely because they do not possess a ration card is a gross violation of Article 14.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

Counterview

Search This Blog