Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 9: High Court today directed the Government to submit report of a committee which the Government has constituted for implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) with 15 days period.
The direction for producing the committee report has been passed by the Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice N P Vasantha Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after the Advocate General produced the copy of order whereby CAPD Department has constituted the committee for implementation of (NFSA).
Earlier the former AG R A Jan on last date of hearing had informed the court that the adoption of NFSA 2013 by J&K in the cabinet meet after a communication of undersecretary to Union Government addressed to Commissioner Secretaries other States including Commissioner Secretary to Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution J&K which mentions the supply of additional food grains are located at highly subsidized central issue prices as per 2011 population estimate.
It was submitted in the said communication that Government of India has decided to allot additional monthly food grains to the states including State of J&K below at BPL rates for distribution to additional BPL families during the month of April to September 2015 till the implementation of NFSA in the states.
“As the State governments have not so far implemented NFSA and they have been allowed to complete the necessary formalities in this regard so as to implement the Same by September 30”,reads the communication.
It has been made clear that the allocation of food grains which is 1523 tons wheat and 3180 tons rice for J&K state (as mentioned in the communication of Undersecretary) has been made to the states (which are 25 in number including J&K) only up to September this year till the NSF act is implemented by the States including State of J&K “Under no circumstances, this additional BPL allotment at BPL rates will be made beyond September 2015”, says the communication.
Court on last date had directed the State Government to come with a stand on implementation of NFS act in the state and had directed AG to inform the court about the stand of Government by filing an detailed affidavit before the court.
Former AG on last date had submitted that the Stat Government had initiated a process in this regard but the Central Government is not complying with basic requirements as provided in Section 9 of the act.
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