CHENNAI: Days after the ruling AIADMK objected to the burning of free mixers and grinders in the Vijaya government the Madras High Court has observed that free PDS rice given to ration card holders should be restricted only to families below the poverty line, irrespective of their economic status.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose made the observation while dealing with a petition challenging detention under the Goondas Act of a person accused of smuggling and selling PDS rice and wanted to know the action taken so far against government officials for facilitating smuggling of PDS rice.
The judges said it was high time to restrict the distribution of free rice only to BPL families and directed Advocate General Vijay Narayan to get instructions from the government as to whether the public distribution scheme could be amended so that others could be excluded.
The apex court also directed civil supplies corporation to submit annual reports of the last 10 years.
