Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 25: In a significant order, Justice B L Bhat today directed Secretary Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Director CAPD Jammu, General Manager FCI and others to continue with the present arrangement of supplying grinded Atta to the consumers.
The direction was passed in a writ petition filed by Ram Dass, Badri Nath and Makhna, all residents of village Jib of Udhampur district challenging Government Order No.41-CAPD of 2015 dated May 6, 2015 whereby sanction was accorded to the issuance of 60% whole meal Atta and 40% Wheat in respect of all districts of Jammu Division except Jammu district with effect from June 1, 2015.
After hearing Advocate S S Ahmed appearing for the petitioners, Justice B L Bhat issued notices to the respondents in the main petition as well as in the Civil Miscellaneous Petition returnable within four weeks. He also issued interim directions asking the respondents to continue with the present arrangement of supplying grinded Atta to the consumers including the petitioners.
During arguments, Advocate Ahmed submitted that the petitioners are Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holders and belong to lowest strata of the society and are getting 35 Kg total ration every month from CAPD Department in the form of flour (Atta) 17½ Kg and rice 17½ Kg at the subsidized rates and all of a sudden the Secretary CAPD on the recommendations of Director CAPD Jammu issued impugned Govt. Order No.41-CAPD of 2015 dated May 6, 2015 whereby a modification was effected in earlier Govt. Order No.56-CAPD of 2013 dated September 9, 2013 to the extent of issuance of 60% of whole meal Atta and 40% Wheat in respect of all the districts of Jammu Division except district Jammu where 100% whole meal Atta will continue to be provided to the targeted beneficiaries through Public Distribution System with effect from June 1, 2015.
“The impugned order is vindictive and aimed to cause undue harassment to the consumers belonging to the rest of the districts of Jammu province including the petitioners, who will suffer exploitation at the hands of water mill owners (Gharats) when they will go there for converting Wheat into Atta”, he said.