The Delhi High Court on Wednesday has directed Delhi Government to place Complaint Boxes at every PDS and Non-PDS distribution centres.
Earlier on the last hearing the court directed, “the GNCTD to immediately place on their official website, as well as, publicize through the print and electronic media, Grievance Helpline Numbers, so as to enable members of the public, who may be aggrieved qua the lack of distribution of the food grains, to seek redressal of their grievances, by contacting the Nodal Officers appointed for the said purpose, whose details shall also be placed in the public domain, forthwith. The Nodal Officers shall address the grievances so received and respond to the persons aggrieved, by placing on the official website the action taken by them in that behalf.”
The petitioner also submitted that the proper functioning of the food distribution is more important than ever before as lakhs of people in Delhi have lost their livelihood due to the sudden lockdown and are unable to afford even one meal in a day.
The case was heard by the division bench comprising of Justice Siddharth Mridul & Justice Talwant Singh who observed that, “any person who is hungry should be eligible for grain and that those who are not in dire need, would not leave their house to stand in queues at ration shops.”
Whereas, In addition to the last order the Court has directed Delhi Government to place Complaint boxes at every PDS and Non-PDS distribution centres, within 3 days. The Court has also directed the Delhi Government to file the compliance affidavit within 4 days.
The High Court has directed to list the case on 18th May 2020.
-India Legal Bureau