Govt versus babu over sale of ration
NEWDELHI: An order issued by the newly appointed food commissioner Mohanjeet Singh, allowing the use of electronic point of sale (E-POS) system for ration distribution and initiating the cancellation of three lakh ration cards, has become another flashpoint between the AAP government i n Delhi and the bureaucracy.
The government alleged that Singh issued the order unilaterally without the consent of the lieutenant governor Anil Baijal and disregarding the directions by food and civil supplies minis- ter Imran Hussain.
Singh in his April 20 order said that Delhi Specified Articles (Regulation of Distribution) Order 1981 “vested the power to issue ration card in food supply officer (FSO)” which also include commissioner, deputy commissioner and civil supply officer.
Singh did not reply to several calls and text messages by the Hindustan Times.
On March 10, Hussain had issued directions that any deletion and addition of the names of ration beneficiaries be done only after his approval.
The food commissioner, however, said in his order that the minister’s order was not in conso- nance with the National Food Security Act.
The AAP government had alleged that subsidised ration was “siphoned off” using OTP (one-time password) system at fair price shops across the city and demanded to stop e-pos system under which beneficiaries are given ration through biometric identification. Baijal, on the recommendations of the government, had on April 16 issued directions to suspend E-POS.
Singh argued that it was through E-POS that department has identified nearly three lakh beneficiaries who have not picked up ration from January to March.“use of these machines has not only resulted in deletion of ineligible beneficiaries but has also stopped pilferage,” the commissioner’s order stated.
A Delhi government spokesperson on Wednesday said the food and civil supplies minister would approach the L-G and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and point out to them that despite a government decision, which has approved by the L-G, the commissioner has issued a contradicting order.
“The commissioner is spreading unnecessary confusion. He is citing an 1981 order but in 1993, rules were amended. How can the food commissioner defy L-G’S orders,” the spokesperson said.