Distribute Rs 1k Pongal gift only to BPL card holders: HC

Meanwhile, while talking to reporters in Sivakasi, Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur C Raju said the State government would challenge the HC order. However, Advocate General Vijay Narayan told reporters that since the number of card holders under NPHH-S and NC were very limited and that 99 per cent of card holders under other categories will be benefited, there is very little room for the State to appeal against the HC order.

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam granted the interim stay on a PIL after noting that, “As rightly pointed out by the counsel for the petitioner, though it is a policy decision, the circular does not indicate the rationale sought to be achieved for the distribution of Rs 1,000 to all the cardholders irrespective of their financial/social status.”

The bench added, “This court is of the prima facie opinion that it is nothing but a wastage of public money.” The bench also said, “The distribution of freebies in the State has become an order of the day and whichever party is in power has resorted to distributing freebies crores of rupees has been spent on it.”

The PIL moved by activist J Daniel Jesudass submitted that while the State faces severe financial crisis, evident from the fact that the Government has not paid Gaja relief, there is no need to give out Rs 1,000 to all card holders.

Even as the Madras High Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay on distribution of Rs.1000 to card holders, Civil Supplies Department officials remained unperturbed as a mere 5 per cent of card holders will be affected by this, while 95 percent would be eligible to receive the gift money.

“Only 10.42 lakh ration cards out of 2 crore ration cards will not be eligible to receive Pongal gift,” an official said.

According to officials, 76.99 lakh card holders have been receiving ration products under Food Securities Act. Another 18.64 lakh card holders are receiving 35 kg rice, aided by both the Centre and the State.

As many as 90.08 lakh card holders are receiving all the ration products, supported by the State government. All these categories constitute 95 percent of all the ration cards. 

However, 10.01 lakh ration cards receive only sugar and remaining 41,000 cards who do not receive any ration products will not receive the Rs 1,000, after the High Court order, the official added.