SC directs Centre to distribute free food grains among poor

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Daljit Singh Bhatia

31 August, 2010

UNION AGRICULTURE Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday faced the ire of the Supreme Court over his remarks on distributing grains free of cost to the poor. The order was passed by Supreme Court after it came to its notice that foodgrains were rotting in the godowns and were being wasted due to poor storage facilities.

Pawar, on the other hand had mentioned that it was impossible to abide by the apex court's directions in this regard.

Today, a bench of Justices which comprised Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Verma said that the statement made by the court was an 'order' so that the grains reach the needy. It further added that the statement was not an 'observation'.
While contradicting Pawar's refusal, the Supreme Court referred to him as 'some official' in the Agriculture Ministry. The court further told the government counsel that the message needs to conveyed to the minister.

On August 12, Supreme Court had directed the Centre to consider free distribution of food grains instead of having them lying unused and rotting in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns. The bench had had made these directions, while dealing with a PIL which was filed by civil rights activists on the prolonged corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Centre, however, filed an affidavit that said it was considering to extend its PDS supply to APL families only after it is met with the BPL/AAY beneficiaries.