Shivani Gadhavi –
Published On: November 06, 2021 at 13:35 IST
The Bombay High Court ordered the Tehsildar of Taluka Murbad to supply the Tribals residing there with food grains under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
The Tribals of Murbad were deprived of distribution of food grains by the Tehsildar under a technicality.
The Respondents in the case i.e., the Tehsildar Office of Murbad, claimed that the Tribals did not have their Aadhar Cards linked to their place of residence and therefore were denied the supply of food grains.
The Coram of Justices Prasanna B. Varela and Madhav J. Jamdar stated, “The members of the marginalized section in general and tribals in particular who have approached this Court on a grievance that they are deprived of the basic requirement of human life, i.e., food, only on account that the State machinery is not technically equipped to give them the benefits flowing from the scheme formulated and floated by the Union of India and to be implemented and executed by the respective States.”
The Petitioners argued that under a notification issued by the Central Government on 8th February, 2017 it has been mentioned that the Aadhar Card is one of the criteria for identifying a beneficiary, not the sole criteria.
Another notification issued by the State of Union Territory Administration, Food Department states that a beneficiary can receive the benefits under the scheme if they have a ‘Ration Card’.
Clause (5) of the notification further states that even if one member of a household has a Ration Card, the person would get the entire amount of food grains or cash under NFSA, 2013 so, the whole family would be benefitted.
The Court directed the Respondents to distribute the food supplies to the Tribals under NFSA and Pradhan Matri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna.
Click Here to Read/Download the Order
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