Restore ration supply to those who didn't avail it for 3 months: Hussain

Delhi Minister Imran Hussain today wrote to Food Commissioner Mohanjeet Singh directing him to restore supply of ration to all those beneficiaries who did not avail it from January to March.

The Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister's letter came days after the department ordered that distribution of ration to those who did not avail it for three consecutive months, from January to March, be stopped till they get their verification done by food and supply officers (FSOs).

Around four lakh ration card holders did not avail ration for the three consecutive months.

In his letter to the food commissioner, Hussain said the department should have first conducted a verification of ration cards and then the action could have been taken if they were found to be bogus.

"However, strangely the department has taken a reverse course... despite the fact that the chief minister directed that no hasty action should be taken and these cards should not be cancelled without proper verification. I am surprised to see that the food commissioner has gone ahead and stopped the ration of these beneficiaries," the minister said in the letter.

Directing the food commissioner to restore ration of all the beneficiaries who did not avail their ration from January to March, Hussain directed the food commissioner to stop forthwith, the ration on cards which were prima facie found to be fake and on which anti-corruption investigation has been ordered by Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

He told the food commissioner to initiate verification of all those ration card holders who did not turn up during January to March.

"If during the verification any card is found not to be genuine, only then the card should be cancelled after giving an opportunity of being heard and after following all rules and prescribed procedures. Only then should the ration be stopped," he added.

He also directed Mohanjeet Singh to refer the matter of bogus ration cards to the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB), as per direction of the L-G, without any further delay.