Supreme Court of India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a writ petition filed by one Mohibulla Mondal challenging the Bengal govt’s decision to cancel ration cards of those whose names were deleted from the voter list on the ground of doubtful citizenship following Special Intensive Revision (SIR).Appearing for the petitioner from Nadia district, senior advocate Shadan Farasat told a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that ration cards of persons whose names were deleted from the voter list after SIR are being cancelled despite the top court restricting the SIR to electoral roll revision and clarifying that final determination of citizenship would have to be done by the Union government.The bench said since Mondal has already filed an appeal before the tribunal concerned challenging the deletion of his name from the voter list, a favourable outcome of these proceedings would ensure the inclusion of his name in the electoral roll and automatically, the other welfare benefits would follow. It asked the tribunal to decide Mondal’s appeal in two months.However, the bench said it was aware of its earlier order restricting SIR exercise to revision of the poll roll and said the issue of alleged linking of SIR deletion to cancellation of ration cards would have to be challenged in HC. Mondal said he was issued a digital ration card in Jan 2016 in the National Food Security Authority (NFSA) Priority Household category by the Bengal government.He said his right to food and right to life are in jeopardy because of the denial of subsidised food grains through a PDS outlet in his village. Supreme Court asked him to approach the high court.
