In a stern directive aimed at expediting the issuance of ration cards under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), the Supreme Court has set a firm deadline of November 19, 2024, for all States and Union Territories to issue ration cards to eligible individuals who have already been identified.

"All such persons who are eligible (entitled for Ration Cards/ foodgrains as per the NFSA) and have been identified as such by the respective States/Union Territories, must be issued Ration Cards before 19.11.2024. They shall also be provided with the foodgrains forthwith," the Court ordered.

The Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah made it clear that failure to comply with this deadline would result in personal appearances of the concerned Secretaries of Food and Civil Supplies Departments before the Court.

The Court expressed its frustration with the ongoing delays in providing ration cards to those entitled to them under the NFSA, emphasizing that repeated orders had been issued on the matter without significant progress in some states.

"Patience may be a virtue – but ours is nearing its end," the Court remarked in its order, underscoring its growing impatience with the failure of certain states and union territories to issue ration cards despite the identification of eligible beneficiaries.

The Court directed that all such persons must be issued ration cards by November 19, 2024.

"For the States where, in spite of identification, Ration Cards have not been issued on or before 19.11.2024, the concerned Secretary/ies (Food and Civil Supplies) shall remain present in person before this Court on the next date of hearing to explain as to why Ration Cards have not been issued despite the identification, and in spite of repeated orders in this regard. List on 19.11.2024/Tuesday high on the Board," the Court ordered.

Earlier, in April 2023, the Court had granted another three months' time to all states and Union territories to provide ration cards to migrant labourers registered on the e-shram portal for availing benefits of "benevolent schemes" of the government.

The Bench had said, "At present, we give further three months' time to the concerned State/UT to undertake the exercise to issue ration cards to the left out registrants on the e-Shram portal by giving wide publicity and the concerned State/UT to approach them through the office of the concerned Collector of the District, so that more and more registrants on e-Shram portal are issued the ration cards and so that they may get the benefit of the benevolent schemes floated by the UOI and the State Government, including the benefit under the National Food Security Act."

It noted that 28.60 crore migrants/unorganized workers are registered on the e-Shram portal, which is a "commendable job," but added that out of 28.60 registrants on the e-Shram portal, 20.63 crores are registered on ration card data.

Previously, Apex court had issued a slew of directions to authorities on a plea of the three activists seeking welfare measures for migrant workers and ordered states and Union territories to frame schemes for providing free dry rations to them till the Covid pandemic lasted and said the Centre will have to allocate additional food grains. It had also directed states and Union territories to register all establishments and license all contractors under the law and ensure that the statutory duty is imposed on the contractors to give particulars of migrant workers.

Cause Title: In Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers

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Justice Sudhanshu DhuliaJustice Ahsanuddin AmaahMigrant Labourers

Sukriti Mishra