The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the city government to submit a timeline for complying with its 2017 direction to examine the model rules suggested by the Centre on distribution of food by fair price shops and to take steps under the provisions of the national food security law.
A Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao said despite its September 1, 2017, order, the city government has not complied with the directions and that provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, were yet to be put into place.
Two weeks
Except for certain interim arrangements, it said, no permanent solution in conformity with the requirement of the statute had been put in place.
The Bench granted two weeks to the Delhi government to bring on record the timeline and schedule by when its order and statutory provisions of the NFSA will be complied with.
It listed the matter for hearing on September 13.
Model rules
The court was hearing a petition by non-government organisation Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan, which sought disbursal of subsidised foodgrains to beneficiaries under the NFSA without Aadhaar cards.
The court had in its order last September directed the Delhi government to examine the model rules suggested by the Central government and take steps in accordance with the provisions of the NFSA in four weeks.
The NGO had moved court claiming that some slum dwellers in south Delhi were facing difficulties in getting subsidised foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) due to lack of Aadhaar cards. The organisation added that Delhi still did not have a functioning State Food Commission.
Under the Act, the State government is required to undertake periodic social audits. However the Delhi government has not put in place any mechanism for such audits, it added.
Under the NFSA, which was rolled out across the country in November 2016, 5-kg of foodgrains per person are provided each month at ₹1-₹3 per kg to over 80 crore people.
