STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has asked Assam's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department "not to take any coercive action" till March 8, which is the next date for hearing a slew of petitions, against Fair Price (FP) Shops which have 50 or less consumers.
This recent directive of the court came after several Fair Price Shop licence holders challenged the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department's decision to tag consumers of such Fair Price Shops with other FP shops having more than 50 consumers. The department's move followed a Cabinet decision regarding implementation of the National Food Security Act in Assam. It was decided to tag these consumers with shops having more than 50 consumer ration cards providing or installing e-PoS device, in order to implement the 'One Nation One Ration Card Scheme' in the State.
However, exceptions were made in the case of Fair Price Shop licence holders who obtained licences on account of being widows or specially-abled persons. Fair Price Shops in the Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts were also exempted.
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