Supreme Court raps Telangana state over scrapping of 19 lakh ration playing cards

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Pulling up the Telangana authorities over the cancellation of round 19 lakh ration playing cards within the State, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed it to hold out verifications of the ration playing cards cancelled in pursuance of the notification issued by the Union authorities in 2016. 

The courtroom additionally directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to file an affidavit on the steps taken earlier than the cancellation of rations playing cards.The high courtroom was listening to a plea by activist SQ Masood in opposition to an order of the Telangana High Court dismissing a petition on the cancellation of round 19 lakh ration playing cards within the State. 

“We deem it proper that an affidavit shall be filed by the Chief Secretary informing us on steps taken before cancellation of the ration cards … direct the State to conduct verification of all the cards cancelled… We are informed that there are 17 parameters that were taken into account before cancellation. The authorities are directed to conduct verification of all the cards and also deal with the representation by any card holder whose card got cancelled,” the highest courtroom orally mentioned. 

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves argued that the ration playing cards have been cancelled with out assigning any motive and that there was no human intervention within the matter. He additional mentioned that the ration playing cards have been cancelled primarily based on pc algorithms.

The high courtroom quizzed the state on the main points obtained earlier than such a call was taken.“You are dealing with people who take ration from PDS. This SLP has been filed against a judgement of the High Court by which the writ petition filed by the HC in a cryptic order on the ground that no relief can be granted with the lockdown being lifted. Cancel 19 lakhs of ration cards without an opportunity for the card holders to defend themselves?” Justice L. Nageswara Rao mentioned.

Counsel for the TS authorities argued that round 4 crore playing cards have been cancelled on the all India degree and it isn’t particular to the state of Telangana. He added that those whose playing cards have been cancelled can apply once more. To this, the highest courtroom questioned the state on the way it can ask folks to once more apply after cancellation.

A particular go away petition has been filed in opposition to the excessive courtroom that had disposed of the matter with instructions that “the lockdown was recalled by the government at the end of August 2020 and the relief prayer does not survive any longer”.

The plea had contended that the principle challenge of this case pertains to cancellation of about 19 lakh ration playing cards within the State of Telangana with out discover to the ration card holders is ensuing on deprivation of meals to lakhs of weak individuals, particularly through the pandemic, which is already inflicting widespread struggling, starvation and lack of lives.