Madras HC poses 20 queries on smuggling of PDS rice

Chennai: Pointing out that without the connivance of higher officials, who are entrusted with the task of distribution of PDS rice, it is not possible to divert the PDS rice to other states, the Madras high court has posed 20 queries to be answered by the principal secretary to government by November 1.

A division bench comprising justices N. Kirubakaran and P. Rajamanickam passed an interim order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Sowjanya, wife of Amarnath, challenging an order, detaining him under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act.

After perusing a report filed by the authorities in response to the earlier queries, the bench said it discloses that 13.5 Qtl of PDS rice (27 bags x 50 kgs) was collected for almost four days by the detenu from more than five persons, who were having family cards, to be sold to other states, where PDS rice was not give at free of cost. It was impossible to believe that the detenu collected 13.5 Qtl of rice from five or more than five families, the bench added and posed the 20 queries.

...And they are

1 How many ration card holders are getting free rice and what is the quantity of rice each card holder is entitled to every month?
2 What is the quantity of the PDS rice meant for public distribution every year at free of cost?
3 Whether the said rice is sufficient or excess or deficient for the needs of the family card holders?
4 How many civil supply staff/officials have been booked for diverting the rice, which is meant for public distribution? If it is so, give the details of people against whom the cases have been filed.
5 What is the value of the rice, which is to be distributed as free rice to the ration card holders, every year in Tamil Nadu?
6How many people complained to the government that they have not received rice through ration card every month?
7 Whether the number of people, who are getting free rice are rising or reducing each year?
8 What is the market rate of one kilo of PDS rice?
9 On what basis the free rice at the rate of 20 Kg., per card is being distributed by the government and what are all the yardsticks prescribed for getting covered under the free rice scheme?
10 Whether any mechanism is available to verify as to whether the PDS rice is being distributed properly or swindled?
11 Whether beneficiaries are getting benefited or they themselves are indulging in selling the rice received under the scheme?
12 If so, what are all the action taken against them.
13 How many people have been detained more than once under this Act for rice smuggling in the past 10 years?
14 Whether distribution of rice at free of cost exists all over India or it is only in Tamil Nadu?
15 What is the scope of double boiled rice and what are the characteristics of double boiled rice, single boiled rice and the raw rice?
16 What is the storage time of the rice before distribution under PDS?
17 Is there any case of spoiling of rice meant for public distribution.
18 If it is so, what is the quantity and value of the rice, which has been spoiled for the past 10 years and what is the reason for spoiling?
19 How many types of ration cards are issued and the benefits attached to each type?
20 How many family cards are issued in Tamil Nadu
under different categories to the people?