Supreme Court directs governments to issue ration cards to migrants/unorganised sector workers registered on e-shram portal

A bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also directed that the Central government should release extra foodgrains for states that have issued ration cards to migrant workers and unorganised sector workers who are registered on E-shram but do not possess ration cards.

The court took serious note of the slow pace at which states are carrying out the exercise of verifying and issuing ration cards. They directed that all states must complete the work within four weeks and file compliance reports failing which the court would initiate proceedings against concerned officials.

During the hearing, it was pointed out on behalf of the petitioners that several states had noted in their affidavit that their quota under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) had been exhausted and that they would only be able to issue ration cards to migrants/unorganised sector workers if the Central government provided additional foodgrains.

In its earlier orders of March 2024 and 2023, the Court had directed all State/UT governments to issue ration cards under NFSA to the 8 crore persons who are registered on the eShram portal but do not possess ration cards.

In today's hearing, the court reiterated that the ration cards must be issued irrespective of the quotas defined in section 3 of the NFSA.

In its earlier orders, the court had taken cognizance of the fact that the coverage of persons getting rations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is to be determined on the basis of the latest census, and as the census of 2021 has not been undertaken, the coverage continues to be on the basis of the 2011 census even though the population has increased- thereby leading to exclusion of more than 10 crore people from the purview of the food security net.

Counsels Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl D'Souza represented the petitioners in the matter. Anjali Bhardwaj, Harsh Mander & Jagdeep Chhokar are petitioners who have moved miscellaneous applications in the suo motu petition initiated by the court itself.

The top court was hearing a petition in the case 'Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers' and has given important directions to ensure food security for migrant workers and unorganised sector workers.

The court had earlier observed that migrants and other workers are the backbone of the country and they must be provided rations at subsidized rates. (ANI)