FCI Has Been Operating Its Godowns With Extended Hours To Ensure Timely Delivery of Food Grains At Fair Price Shops: Delhi Govt Informs HC [Read Order]

The information was given by the Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain before the Division Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad.

The present matter pertains to a writ petition moved by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan, seeking adequate ration for all the persons residing in Delhi who are in need of it, with or without a ration card.

The petition also sought for a direction to be issued to the Delhi Government to ensure that PDS and FPS shops are functional, maintaining a database on availability of ration, and food grains are being made available to all those who are in need of it.

In today's proceedings, an application was moved by the Delhi Government seeking a correction in the earlier order of this court.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the Delhi Government, submitted that on 11.06.2020, he had erroneously made a statement that there was a glitch in the supply chain as the Delhi Government had deposited money with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for release of grains, rice, etc., but due to the recent cyclone in the eastern part of the country particularly, in West Bengal and Odisha, ration was being diverted by FCI to meet the emergent needs of those States.

The ASG further submitted that the aforesaid factual error had occurred due to a misunderstanding on his part and that the FCI has been extending full cooperation to the GNCTD for providing food grains against allocations issued by the Department under various schemes during the COVID-19 crisis.

He said:

'...lifting of foodgrains by the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited has been facilitated by the FCI from their godowns in Delhi, with extended working hours including operating the godowns on Sundays and holidays for timely delivery of foodgrains at the FPS and non-PDS centres. Thus, adequate quantities were made available to the Delhi Government by the FCI during the COVID-19 crisis.'

In light of this, the court corrected its earlier order after taking into consideration the counsel appearing for the Petitioner has no objection to the request made in the present application.

Case Title: Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan v. Union of India