States Using Ration Cards for Optics, Are Benefits Reaching BPL Persons? Supreme Court Asks
Debayan Roy (Bar  and  Bench) 19 March 2025
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that while many States boast of supplying subsidised essential goods to those in need through the ration system, such ration often do not reach the intended beneficiaries - Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
 
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also said that ration cards are used for optics by States which claim they have issued "these many ration cards".
 
The Court made the observation while hearing a suo motu case registered in the wake of difficulties faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
One of the issues flagged by advocate Prashant Bhushan during today's hearing of the matter was that several migrant workers were not able to secure the ration benefits that they are entitled to. 
 
This prompted the Bench to flag concern over the misuse of ration cards by others who do not deserve ration supplies. 
 
"Our concern is - are benefits meant for genuine BPL (families) percolating to those pockets who do not deserve it? Ration card has become 'popularity card' now. States just say 'we have issued these many' etc. ... There are some States. When they want to show their development they will say 'per capita income is growing.' And then when we talk of BPL, they (say) '75 per cent is BPL' ... How can these be reconciled? The conflict is inherent. We have to ensure that it reaches the deserving people," Justice Kant observed. 
 
Advocate Prashant Bhushan today told the Court that out of about 30 crore migrant workers registered on the Central government's eSHRAM portal (a centralised database of unorganized workers meant to help them secure social security services), over 8 crore of such migrant workers do not have ration cards. 
 
He added that many poor people have indicated that they do not apply for ration benefits since they do not expect to get it anyway. 
 
"The poor have written, 'why to apply for it since we do not get ration?' ... 80 per cent of the population is very very poor. They are all in need of food security," Bhushan said. 
 
The Court noted that this is a genuine issue, and that efforts should be taken to ensure that the poor get the ration that they are entitled to. 
 
"We hope that in the issuance of ration cards, there is no politicised element in it ... I have not lost my roots. I always want to know plight of poor people. There are families who continue to be poor," Justice Kant added. 
 
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Central government, told the Court that today, about 81.35 crore people are covered by schemes provided for under the National Food Security Act. Another 11 crore people are covered by another similar scheme, she said.
 
Comments
Woman Moves Bombay High Court Against Unauthorised Use of Her Photo in State Ads, Political Campaigns
Sahyaja MS (Bar  and  Bench 13 March 2025
A woman has approached the Bombay High Court seeking action against unauthorised use of her photograph by political parties and various States in advertising their schemes (Namrata Ankush Kawale and anr v Tukaram Nivrutti...
Road Accident Accused Gets Interim Bail from SC after His Father Agrees To Pay Rs1 Crore Compensation
Ummar Jamal (Bar  and  Bench) 06 March 2025
The Supreme Court recently granted interim bail to an accused in a fatal road accident case after the accused's father agreed to provide 1 crore in compensation for the orphaned children who lost both parents in the accident (Jay...
5 Lakh Child Victims of Dog Bites in 2024: NHRC Takes Cognisance
Ratna Singh (Bar  and  Bench) 04 March 2025
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently directed the Animal Welfare Board, Haryana to investigate dog bite cases in the State and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR).
 
The incident came to light after a news article...
Bombay HC Seeks Centre's Response on Dr Aniruddha Malpani's Plea against Ban on His LinkedIn Account over Byju's Posts
Sahyaja MS (Bar  and  Bench) 03 March 2025
The Bombay High Court on Friday issued notice in a petition challenging the suspension of a Mumbai-based doctor's LinkedIn account which had made critical remarks about ed-tech company Byju’s.
 
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite...
Array
Free Helpline
Feedback