MUSHTAQ ALI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petition has been preferred by way of a Public Interest Litigation by the petitioners. Prayer has been made to declare transfer of cash subsidy scheme on Public Distribution System (PDS) Kerosene, to be illegal. Other ancillary reliefs have also been prayed.

(2.) Petitioners have submitted that the Central Government, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has floated the pilot scheme for transfer of cash subsidy on PDS Kerosene in the bank accounts of the consumer. Out of 5 States, Rajasthan was also selected besides 4 other States for the project. Districts Alwar and Bharatpur have been selected for introduction of the project. In Alwar district, initially Tehsil Laxmangarh was selected for the project but since consumers of Tehsil Kotkasim were having more bank accounts in comparison to Tehsil Laxmangarh, it was selected later-on. It is submitted that the respondents have failed to create the basic infrastructure for successful running of the project. Large number of consumers, who are not having bank accounts, are suffering from non supply of Kerosene on subsidy, and there is no proper supervision of the project. It is further submitted in the petition that meeting was held under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, on 15.11.2011 where certain questions were canvased. Certain preliminary proceedings were required to be performed for launch of the project

(3.) Tehsil Kotkasim has been selected instead of Tehsil Laxmangarh which is consisting of 24 Gram Panchayats where total number of Ration Cards holders are 25843. Copy of the list issued by the District Supply Officer has been placed on record. It is submitted that only 14120 bank accounts have been opened for the consumers. Thus large number of Ration Card holders are not having bank accounts for transfer of the subsidy. Subsidy of Rs.22,31,000/- has been deposited into 8000 accounts whereas total accounts opened were 13000. Thus the project is not running properly. Subsidy is also not being deposited regularly. Hence the petition has been preferred.