Madras HC for restricting free rice to BPL families alone
Chennai, Nov 22: The Madras High Court Thursday observed that free PDS rice given to ration card-holders should be restricted only to the families below the poverty line who really deserve such assistance.
It also said while it was obligatory on the part of the government to provide bare necessities like rice and other groceries to the needy and poor people, successive governments had extended such benefits to all people for political benefits.
Consequently, people began to expect everything for free from the government. As a result, they have become lazy, and migrant workers were being brought for even menial works, a bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice Abdul Quddhose lamented.
It made the observations on a petition challenging detention under the Goondas Act of a person accused of smuggling and selling PDS rice, while taking note of the government's submission that free rice was given to all holders of ration cards, irrespective of their economic status.
In the year 2017-18, Rs 2,110 crores had been spent for distribution of free rice, the government said.
The judges said it was high time to restrict the distribution of free rice only to the BPL families and directed Advocate General Vijay Narayan to get instructions from the government as to whether the public distribution scheme could be amended so that others could be excluded.
In its interim order, the bench also sought to know if any survey had been conducted to identify BPL families, and if so, the number of BPL families and the volume of rice required for supply only to the BPL people and the value of the rice.
Observing that the amount spent on free rice scheme was huge, the bench said, "This court is not against the distribution of rice to the really deserving, economically backward and poor people. However, it should not be given to people irrespective of their economic status."
The government spent more than Rs 2,000 crores which would be like "capital loss" and the expenditure occurs every year and it is "recurring capital loss", the bench added.
"If the scheme benefits people other than poor people/BPL family, it would amount to unjustly enriching other people at the cost of public exchequer," the court said.
"The free rice should be given to the families which are below the poverty line alone and they have to be the beneficiaries," it said.
The bench directed the the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to file its annual reports for the past 10 years and posted the matter for further hearing to November 30.
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Man accused of gambling dies in 'police custody' in Tumakuru, CID probe ordered
Tumakuru (Karnataka), Mar 20 (PTI): A 50-year-old man, who was allegedly picked up in connection with a gambling case, died after collapsing within the premises of a police station here, police said on Friday.
With the family of the deceased person, Kantaraju, expressing suspicion over the death and alleging 'torture' by the police, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has ordered a CID probe into the incident.
A senior police officer said Kantaraju from Yalanadu village in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, was brought to Huliyar police station on Thursday for questioning in connection with a gambling case.
"He was questioned in connection with a gambling case and served a notice. While leaving the police station, he suddenly collapsed and died within the compound of the premises," he said.
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The exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that a post-mortem has been conducted.
A judicial magistrate inquiry into the incident is underway, he added.
The incident triggered protests by villagers inside the police station premises demanding accountability.
Superintendent of Police Ashok K V has assured appropriate action against any police personnel found responsible.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru that he has decided to hand over the case to CID.
"I spoke to the SP, he said it was not a case of lock-up death. The person died... what has happened is not yet known. I have decided to handover the case to CID. Things will be clear from the CID probe if he was beaten or anything else has happened. It will also be known to an extent from the postmortem. CID will probe into the entire incident and give a report, based on which we will take necessary action," he said.
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