On 7th March, Delhi High Court declares ration cards are not proof of address, emphasizing their primary purpose for obtaining essential commodities. In response to Kathputli Colony residents’ petitions, the court deems the ration card requirement in a rehabilitation scheme arbitrary and directs authorities to allocate alternative housing.
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DELHI: Today(on 7th March),the Delhi High Court has clarified that a ration card, typically issued for procuring essential commodities through the public distribution system, cannot serve as proof of address or residence. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, presiding over petitions from former residents of Kathputli Colony seeking alternative accommodation after the area’s redevelopment, declared the mandatory requirement of a ration card for claiming benefits under the rehabilitation scheme as arbitrary and illegal.
“The issuance of a Ration Card is intended for the distribution of essential food items through fair price shops. Consequently, it does not serve as a proof of residence for the cardholder.”
-emphasized the court.
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Furthermore, the court highlighted a critical issue, stating-
“The issuing authority of Ration Cards lacks a mechanism to verify whether the cardholder resides at the address specified in the ration card.”
The court emphasized that the primary purpose of ration cards is to ensure the distribution of food grains at a reasonable price and, therefore, cannot be considered a reliable proof of address.
The petitioners alleged that authorities had breached their trust by changing the eligibility criteria in 2015 after the demolition of Kathputli Colony. The sudden requirement of a separate ration card for first-floor dwellers was deemed unfair and led to a loss of trust among the slum dwellers.
The court, acknowledging the petitioners’ grievances, pointed out that a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution in 2015 had already disallowed the use of a ration card as a document of identity or proof of residence. Additionally, the court noted that fresh ration cards were not being issued in Delhi due to the city reaching its state-wise ceiling of eligible households based on the 2011 census.
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Expressing dissatisfaction with the authorities’ actions, the court stated-
“Imposing the necessity of presenting a Ration Card as a compulsory document to establish the first floor of the jhuggi as an independent dwelling unit is deemed arbitrary and unlawful.”
The court urged the authorities to exercise due caution and care, emphasizing that their actions violated the petitioners’ right to shelter as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
In response to the petitioners’ plight, the court directed the authorities to allocate an alternative dwelling unit. However, this allocation is subject to the condition that the petitioners produce other relevant documents as per the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, and fulfill all necessary requirements.
“The petitioners’ right to housing stands as a fundamental and esteemed principle in our Constitution, consistently affirmed and reinforced by the judiciary through precedent-setting decisions.”
-asserted the court, highlighting the significance of safeguarding citizens’ housing rights.
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