Will modify ration-on-doorstep scheme, Punjab govt tells High Court

Chandigarh, October 17

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Just over a month after the decision to provide “atta” on the doorstep of the beneficiaries after “bypassing/replacing” the network of 17,000 fair price shops was challenged, Punjab today acknowledged before the Punjab and Haryana High Court the need for alterations/amendments. Among other things, it said the interests of fair price shop owners, too, would be taken into consideration.

In an affidavit placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli, Punjab Additional Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, TK Goyal submitted that the entire issue had been re-examined by the department.

It was decided that certain alterations/amendments were required to be carried out in the home delivery service to bring it in sync with the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the Punjab Targeted Public Distribution System (Licensing and Control) Order, 2016. The affidavit added that the request for proposal (RFP) issued for the selection of grinding/delivery services would be given effect to after bringing about the desired changes in the service. “Further, while implementing the changes in the home delivery service, the interests of all stakeholders in the public distribution system chain, including the fair price shops owners, shall be taken into account,” the affidavit added.

The Bench was hearing a petition by the NFSA Depot Holders Welfare Association through counsel Vijay K Jindal and Vipul Jindal. It was contended that the network of fair price shops was to be bypassed by “creating parallel company for delivery”.

The NFSA Depot Holders Welfare Association contended that the action was “void ab initio” or having no legal effect from inception. It was, as such, violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. It was added that the Aam Aadmi Party got a majority in Punjab before forming the government, which assured home delivery of wheat flour/atta on the doorstep of the beneficiaries. The government also assured that it would pay the entire cost of grinding and manage home delivery. — TNS

AAP’s poll promise

• Doorstep ration delivery scheme was one of the promises made by AAP in the runup to polls
• Govt now says some alterations/ amendments required to bring it in sync with provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013