Taking serious note of large-scale rotting and wastage of food grains across the country due to lack of storage facilities, the Supreme Court sought the response of the Union Government within two weeks regarding the steps being taken to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) meant for providing ration to the poor at cheaper rates.

A bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma suggested to the Government that instead of leaving huge quantity of food grains to rot in the open, the Government should distribute the same among the poor who are dying of starvation.

The apex court emphasised on prompt and effective measures to check rampant corruption in the PDS system where a large quantity of food grains meant for the poor are being diverted to the black market.

The apex court also suggested the Government to completely exclude the Above Poverty Line class from the PDS system so that more food grains may be made available to the poor.

The court also advocated the abolition of middlemen and suggested that fair price shop owners should directly pick up their stock from Government godowns.

UNI