Cancellation of 3 cr ration cards too serious: SC

KEY STORY

• Noting that the cancellation of around three crore ration cards by the Centre due to non-linking with Aadhaar card, between 2013 and 2016 leading to alleged starvation deaths, as “too serious”, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the central and state governments on the issue.

• A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde said this matter should not be treated as adversarial as it is too serious a matter. It said the matter will be put up for a final hearing after four weeks. During the hearing, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for petitioner Koili Devi, said the petition deals with the larger issue.

• “We see the problem at hand and I have dealt with this kind of matter in the Bombay High Court, and I think this matter should be filed before the high court concerned,” the CJI said. Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi said it is a wrong statement made by Gonsalves that the Centre had cancelled the ration cards.

• Lekhi said that the notice has already been issued in the matter and the Centre’s response is there on record. Gonsalves said notice has not been issued on the main plea but alternative grievance redressal. “Principle issue is the cancellation of three crore ration cards and starvation deaths,” Gonsalves said.

• “There is a grievance redressal system under the Food Security Act. This court has already sought responses from state governments on this. The plea, as being pressed, is completely misconceived because there is absolute clarity that if Aadhaar is not available, alternative documents can be submitted. We have clearly said Aadhaar or no Aadhaar, it will not deny the right to food,” said Lekhi.

CONCLUSION

• On December 9, 2019, the SC had sought responses from all the states over allegations of starvation deaths of people who were deprived of their ration supplies for not having valid Aadhaar cards.

• The PIL has been filed by Devi, whose 11-year-old daughter Santoshi of Jharkhand’s Simdega died of starvation on September 2018. Santoshi’s sister is the joint petitioner in the case. The petition pointed out that Santoshi, who belonged to a Dalit family, died as the local authorities had cancelled the card of her family since they failed to link it with Aadhaar.