The High Court
Case Details
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.19913 of 2025 Dr. Bikash Das …. Petitioner State of Odisha and others Represented by Adv.– Dr. Binoda Kumar Mishra, Advocate -Versus- ….
Legal Reasoning
Opposite Parties Represented by Adv.– Mr. Saswat Das, Addl. Govt. Advocate CORAM: HON’ BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN Order No.
Decision
ORDER 06.08.2025 02. 1. The instant Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is filed assailing the decision published in the newspaper that the State Government has decided to suspend the supply of ration to the beneficiaries of the holders of the card for a period of three months w.e.f., the month of July, 2025. Further prayer was made to publish the list of the beneficiaries, who have not completed the e-KYC process as mandated by the government in the public domain/official portal so that it may be brought to the notice of the left out beneficiaries to fix and also to extend the timeline of filing the e-KYC and a wide publication in this regard shall be ensured so that it may reach to all beneficiaries. Page 1 of 5 2. On the last occasion, the time was taken by learned Additional Government Advocate (AGA) to take instruction. We were also amazed when the matter was moved by the learned counsel for the petitioner on a decision of the Government to suspend the supply of ration thereby depriving the beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS). 3. Today, learned AGA hands over the instruction received from the Special Secretary to Government of Odisha indicating that the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department is providing the ration entitlements to all eligible 96 lakh and odd families comprising of more than 3.25 crore members under the National Food Security Act and State Food Security Scheme. It is further revealed that the distribution of the foodgrains have already been ensued to be utilized till the month of August, 2025 and distribution for the month of September and October, 2025 has recently started from 1st August, 2025 in advance. It is further disclosed that the department has not suspended distribution of ration to 20.58 lakh beneficiaries those who have not offered their Aadhaar-based e-KYC till date. 4. Taking into account the aforesaid disclosure having made before us, the principle grievance raised in the instant writ petition that the government has decided to suspend the supply of essential Page 2 of 5 commodities to the downtrodden section of the societies, who comes under the Food Security Scheme does not appear to be factually correct. Since the supply is seamless and the commodities have already been distributed to the dealers or the distributors as the case may be to be utilized for the month of August, 2025 and the further commodities to be utilized for the month of September and October, 2025 has also started on and from 1st August, 2025. 5. We thus do not find that the instant PIL based on an article published in the print media reporting the decision of the government does not appear to have any semblance of truth. We are conscious that the National Food Security Act introduced by the Central Government with an avowed object of supplying the subsidized commodities to the economically weaker section of the societies for their sustenance and it is inconceivable that there would be any disruption in supply of the commodities for any reason whatsoever. 6. It is imperative on the government to provide the continuous supply of the commodities within the State so that the beneficiaries are not deprived of availing such benefits. Since the commodities are the essential elements of survival of a life, the disruption is unwarranted and cannot be encouraged for any reason, be technical or otherwise. Page 3 of 5 7. Be that as it may, the government being conscious of their obligations under the said statute and the scheme so floated has not decided to disrupt the supply and, therefore, we do not think that any further purpose would be subserved to keep the instant PIL pending. We would be failing in our duty if we do not take into account the other reliefs claimed in the instant writ petition relating to the wide publication of the mandate of providing the e-KYC. 8. It was apprehended by the petitioner that taking advantage of the lapses, the government may discontinue the supply of the essential commodities to those who are not equipped or having knowledge to upload the e-KYC. The instruction in the form of a report reveals that till date they are not cancelled or suspended the card of the persons, who have not uploaded the e-KYC. 9. However, we find some substance in the stand of the petitioner that the government should take an initiative to make a wide publication that each and every beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System are required to furnish the necessary information and the documents to continue in getting the benefits of the said scheme. The government shall also set up the infrastructure if necessary at each Fair Price Shop established under the said scheme, so that the persons, who Page 4 of 5 are not aware of the technology, may get the benefits of uploading the e-KYC on the basis of a physical copy or a hard copy as may be. 11. Apart from the same, the government shall also make aware of the cardholders of the Public Distribution System by pasting the notice in the conspicuous place of each Fair Price Shop that the e-KYC can also be done through a portal as indicated therein so that the persons who do not intend to take services and are otherwise aware of the technologies may directly utilize such facility. 12. A timeline shall be fixed within which the entire e-KYC should be completed and depending upon the exigencies and unforeseen circumstances may extend the same. 13. With these observations, the instant writ petition is disposed of. (Harish Tandon) Chief Justice (M.S. Raman) Judge S.K. Behera Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: SISIRA KUMAR BEHERA Designation: Junior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 07-Aug-2025 18:54:35 Page 5 of 5