Gauhati High Court directs government to identify ration card applicants

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the state government to identify the applicants of ration cards in slum areas in the city. The Court of Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Malasri Nandi gave the order on December 23 while hearing a PIL filed by Syeda Mehzebin Rahman of Guwahati about the issuance of ration cards for households in slum areas of Uzanbazar, Bharalumukh, Santipur and Bhutnath.

During the hearing, the government advocate had submitted that though some of the beneficiaries have been identified for issuance of ration cards, the matter could not be finalized as the beneficiaries could not be identified by the concerned Counselor of the respective Municipal Boards. He also mentioned that since the election has not taken place in the Gauhati Municipal Corporation, no ward commissioner can identify the applicants.

"We think that perhaps the Inspector of Food and Civil Supplies attached to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M) or any such competent authority as the Deputy Commissioner may deem fit appropriate may identify such beneficiaries in absence of the Ward Commissioner. Accordingly, let the Inspector of Food and Civil Supplies or any such competent authority as the Deputy Commissioner may deem fit appropriate, as directed above, may identify the beneficiaries," the High Court order said.

"The Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup(M) will do the needful in respect of such families which have been identified by para-legal volunteers and who fulfil the conditions for grant of such benefit. The Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M) shall undertake the aforesaid exercise within 8 weeks by following the National Food Security Act, 2013. We also make it clear that if the benefits under this Act could not be extended because of any lack of documentation or identification document, the same may be specified before this Court so that appropriate order can be passed," the order mentioned.

The High Court in its order further mentioned that the direction has been issued only as a temporary arrangement. The next hearing of the PIL has been listed for March 2, 2022.

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