Munmun Kaur
Published On: December 27, 2021 at 12:33 IST
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by one Syeda Mehzebin Rahman of Guwahati regarding the issuance of ration cards for the households in slum areas of Uzanbazar, Bharalumukh, Santipur, and Bhutnath of Guwahati district.
It was brought to the notice of the Court that even though some of the beneficiaries for the purpose of issuance of ration cards had been identified, all the beneficiaries could not be identified by the concerned Counselor of the respective Municipal Boards, therefore, resulted in the matter not being finalized.
It was also submitted that since the election has not taken place in Guwahati Municipal Corporation, there is no Ward Commissioner who could identify the applicants.
The Bench of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Malasri Nandi directed the State Government to identify the beneficiaries of ration cards in slum areas. The Gauhati High Court further directed the Government to immediately provide help to the families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the form of food and other day-to-day support.
Acknowledging the absence of Ward Commissioner, the Court directed that as a temporary arrangement, Inspector of Food and Civil Supplies attached to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M), or any such competent authority be identified in absence of the Ward Commissioner for the purpose of identification of beneficiaries.
The Court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 02, 2022.