Court doubts Gujarat scheme on bar-coded ration cards

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat government’s plan to introduce bar-coded ration cards received a setback of sorts after the high court Monday doubted the reliability of the proposal to check pilferage.

A Gujarat High Court bench comprising Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi directed the state government to be prepared to demonstrate in the court as to how the whole system would work for even an illiterate layman villager.

The court was “not satisfied” with the state government’s proposed action plan and directed it to give a demonstration within the court premises Sep 9.

The court sought details about instructions for card holders and how effectively one understands it. The court also raised doubts as to how the system would work for single member family having tight time schedules or other constraints.

The petitioner, Bhavna Seva Sangh, filed a petition in public interest challenging the new forms for bar-coded ration cards claiming that derogatory words were used in the forms.

The petitioner had also raised issues of forms being lengthy.

It was also submitted that certain questions requiring disclosure of caste and religion were offensive.