The Hindu : National : Centre directed to appoint panel to streamline PDS

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Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

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Centre directed to appoint panel to streamline PDS

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to appoint a two-member committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to suggest measures for streamlining the public distribution system (PDS) in the country.

A Bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S.H. Kapadia gave this direction on a petition filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties seeking proper safeguards and measures to streamline the PDS. The Bench directed the committee that would include a retired bureaucrat N.C. Saxena as Member, to submit its report in four months. (The Chief Justice of India will name the retired judge to head the committee). The committee would suggest measures to streamline the system and steps to check corruption and to prevent siphoning of foodgrains and kerosene for being sold in the black market

The petitioners had alleged that foodgrains meant for distribution through the PDS to people living Below Poverty Line and other weaker sections were being illegally diverted to the black market. It alleged that the fair price shops and kerosene dealers manipulated their records to show that the entire stock of foodgrains, kerosene, rice and sugar had already been sold out or had not been supplied by the Government in time while in fact, the major part of the stock was being sold in the black market.

The petitioner urged the court to direct the Centre, the States and other authorities to take disciplinary action and initiate criminal prosecutions wherever appropriate for violation of the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.

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