Cuttack, Nov. 21: The procedure adopted by Orissa government for a verification drive to eliminate bogus public distribution system (PDS) of ration cards has come under judicial scrutiny. The high court has sought a clarification from the government by Monday.

The state government has decided to carry out the verification process of ration cards both in rural and urban areas from November 1 to December 31, on the days of distribution of essential commodities by officials appointed for supervision of the fair price shops.

Alokchandra Bisoi and six other residents of Bhub-aneswar filed the PIL alleging that the verification procedure adopted to implement Supreme Court direction is “improper and whimsical”.

The PIL has sought direction for conducting door-to-door survey to eliminate bogus ration cards vis-à-vis identifying persons entitled for new ration cards under PDS. “After a preliminary hearing on the PIL, the two-judge bench sought the clarification, while fixing November 23, for hearing of the case,” the petitioners’ counsel Madhusudan Panda, said.

No verification of the PDS ration cards have been conducted in Orissa since 1996.

and no new ration cards had been issued.

during the past 14 years. Consequently, a large population remained deprived of the benefits of PDS.

“The state government is expected to clarify its stand and show cause why the guideline issued for verification of the PDS ration cards should not be set aside,” Panda said.

The Supreme Court had on August 31, 2010, issued directions on a batch of petitions for a fresh survey in all states to get a clear picture of the targeted population for PDS in all categories. “A ray of hope for issuance of new ration cards had come with the Supreme Court order but its object is going to be frustrated if the guideline notified by the state government is allowed to be adopted,” the petitioners said.

The verification of PDS ration cards could not be carried out as per schedule due to lack of appointment of supervisory staff. The verification has been rescheduled from November to early December.

News reports had alleged circulation of 2.5 lakh bogus cards in Orissa alone. The Supreme Court bench constituting of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma had directed: “By a newspaper advertisement, a warning be issued asking all the bogus card holders to surrender the bogus cards forthwith, in any event within two weeks of the advertisement, otherwise criminal proceedings may be initiated against the bogus card holders”.