Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 21: High Court today directed State Government to disclose its stand on implementation of National Food Security Act in the State.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice, N Paul Vasantha Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur directed Advocate General R A Jan to file an affidavit by June 1 to disclose Government stand on implementation of National Food Security Act in the State.
The direction by the court followed submissions by Advocate General, seeking time for disclosing the stand. “We have already initiated the process but the difficulty with is that the Central Government is not complying with basic requirement as provided in Section 9 of the Act,” he said.
On being asked by court about the stand of the Government, he sought time and urged the court the post the case on June 1. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Tariq Ali Najar of Pulwama, seeking directions for a proportionate increase in allocation of food grains as per 2011 census.
Earlier in his submissions, Assistant Solicitor General of India S A Makroo submitted that since there is increase in population, there should be increase in food grains.
“We request the State Government to implement the act. As per latest communication received by me, the provision of 35 kgs will remain besides priority class will get 5kgs,” he said. Makroo said that it is for the State Government to identify the priority class who will get 5 kgs each family at a subsidized rate.
Najar through his counsel advocate S A Rathore has submitted that the NFSA covers only 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population under TPDS. “The eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized price of Rs 3, 2, 1 per kg of rice, wheat and coarse grains but the act is silent regarding the unsubsidized food grains,” he says.
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