​States to confirm the establishment of grievance redressal mechanisms for scheme ensuring food to all

A notice has been issued by the Supreme Court to all states seeking their response on the issue that whether there is a grievance redressal mechanism present in all states to ensure food to everyone under the National Food Security Act. The states have been directed to file their response within 4 weeks. The notice has been issued by the SC in a petition alleging the death of people by starvation after they were denied rations due to the absence of Aadhaar card under the government social welfare scheme. The advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that many tribal either do not have Aadhaar card or they do not know how to link with the Aadhaar. The Chief Justice of India SA Bobde replied to the submission that he was part of the Aadhaar case and it was very much clear that people cannot be denied the benefit of any social welfare scheme on the ground of Aadhaar. Further, with reference to the mandatory requirement of grievance redressal mechanism under the National Food Security Act, he stated that “ We want to appoint a high powered committee to monitor the issue.” He also asked the advocate for the petitioner to suggest names for the appointment of the members of the committee. However, the advocate appearing for the Central Government stated that reports suggest that cases mentioned in the petition are not due to starvation and no one was denied food on the ground of Aadhaar. In addition to this, he stated that the government has issued circular to all states to ensure food for all. The petition was filed by the mother and sister of an 11-year-old girl who died of starvation on September 28, 2017. The petition states that they stopped getting rations from March 2017 and the victim was fed some tea and salt on the day of her death.