Supreme Court Directs Petitioners to Calcutta HC on Ration Denial in West Bengal

The Supreme Court of India has recently declined to expedite a petition challenging the West Bengal government’s decision to withhold ration benefits from individuals excluded from the electoral rolls following a special intensive revision exercise. During the hearing on Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymala Bagchi advised the petitioners to seek redressal from the Calcutta High Court instead.

The petition was submitted by the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, a union representing farm laborers. They contested a directive issued on June 4 by the West Bengal Department of Food and Supplies, alongside a May 19 notification by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare. The controversial order links eligibility for ration benefits under the public distribution system and the state’s Annapurna Yojana scheme to an individual’s standing post the recent electoral roll revision.

The union highlighted the potential ramifications of this policy, estimating that between 3.5 million to 6 million ration cards could become invalidated if the state implements the new eligibility criteria. They assert that this approach not only contravenes the fundamental rights to equality and life but also raises concerns about the economic vulnerability of those affected. The petitioners pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously clarified that exclusion from electoral rolls alone should not be used to assess an individual’s economic status or citizenship rights.

In their argument, the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity emphasized the importance of ration benefits, particularly for low-income families who rely heavily on government assistance to meet their basic needs. The linking of such essential services to electoral status, they argue, is a gross violation of civil rights and can lead to significant hardships for countless families across the state.

The Supreme Court’s decision to redirect the petitioners to the Calcutta High Court has raised questions about the steps that will follow. As the court system navigates through this complex issue, many are watching closely to see how the state government will respond to the concerns raised by the union and whether further legal action will be pursued to protect the rights of those who may lose their ration cards.

Source: scroll.in