The Supreme Court on Wednesday put the Telangana government in the dock for its “en masse” cancellation of over 19 lakh ration cards, saying getting basic nutrition through the public distribution system (PDS) is a statutory right.
The cards, the court learnt, were cancelled by the State for being “bogus” without giving beneficiaries any prior notice or an opportunity to be heard or without bothering to conduct field surveys to verify their living conditions.
Ration cards ensure food and nutrition through the PDS for families living below the poverty line. For many, the card is the only thing which keeps them from slipping into starvation. Right to food is part of right to dignity and life. The National Food Security Act creates an obligation on the state to provide nutrition.
