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The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi Government to share details of optees of the door-to-door ration distribution scheme to fair price shops, before stopping supply to the shops of such ration which is being distributed directly under the scheme.

The order was passed by the division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh on a plea filed by Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers Sangh challeging by Delhi Government informing that the supply of such amount of ration under the door-to-door scheme would be stopped to the existing PDS (public distribution system) distributors was to be stopped.

Counsel KD Vishwanathan appearing for Delhi Government submitted that earlier the court had only directed the government to stop or curtail the supply of food grains/ flour, to the members of the petitioner association which was an interim order and not stayed the implementation of the scheme for door to door delivery of food grains/ flour.

Vishwanathan informed the court that th government has undertaken the exercise of calling for options from all PDS card holders, on whether they prefer to continue with the existing system of collecting rations from existing PDS shops, or to have their rations delivered at their door step.

He submitted that an overwhelming majority has opted for supply of rations at their door step.

He submitted that the GNCTD therefore, would necessarily have to curtail the supplies to the members of the petitioner association to the extent that the rations have to be supplied at the door steps as per the options received, as the petitioner cannot be given rations for distribution even in respect of those who have opted for supply of rations at their door steps.

Accordingly the court modified its earlier order dated March 22, 2021.

The court clarified that in case, the members of the petitioner association seek any further details with regard to the manner in which the options have been called from the ration card holders, the government shall provide the relevant record to the members of the petitioner association.

Vishwanathan also submitted that beneficiaries under the PDS scheme, who opt for delivery of rations at their door steps, would have the option to once again opt out and go back to the fair price shops for collection of their rations at any time.

In this regard the court directed the GNCTD to publicize, for the benefit of the beneficiaries under the PDS scheme, the essential terms and conditions of the order.

Case Title: Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers Sangh, Delhi vs Commissioner, Food and Supplies, Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors.