The Bombay High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the immediate implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

The plea, filed by the Movement for Peace and Justice for Welfare (MPJ), highlights the pressing need for ONORC, especially for migrant workers, and demands updates to the current National Food Security coverage and income limits.

During the preliminary hearing on October 11, 2024, a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar suggested that the petitioners approach the Supreme Court with a contempt petition.

The Court indicated that since the PIL primarily sought enforcement of existing Supreme Court orders, it might not be the appropriate forum for executing those directives.

“Are we the executing court? Why don’t you file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court?” remarked Chief Justice Upadhyay, referring to the Apex Court’s previous orders regarding the implementation of ONORC.

The hearing was adjourned to October 23, 2024, allowing the petitioner’s counsel time to consult further.

Petition’s Demands

The petition submitted by MPJ through advocate Hamza Lakdawala presents three main arguments:

1. Immediate Enforcement of ONORC: The PIL highlights that the Supreme Court had already mandated the implementation of the ONORC scheme in its orders dated June 29, 2021, June 21, 2022, and May 20, 2023. The petitioners are urging the Bombay High Court to ensure the State of Maharashtra complies with these directives. The ONORC scheme, designed to enable ration card portability, is especially crucial for migrant laborers, ensuring they can access subsidized food anywhere in the country.
2. Recalibration of NFSA Coverage in Maharashtra: The PIL argues that the current NFSA coverage in Maharashtra is based on outdated 2011 census data and fails to accommodate the state’s growing population, which has expanded significantly due to natural growth and migration. The petition seeks an update in the coverage to include 7 crore citizens, reflecting the current demographic situation.
3. Revision of Income Limits Under Maharashtra Food Security Rules, 2019: Present income limits for eligibility under the NFSA—₹44,000 for rural households and ₹59,000 for urban households—are severely outdated, the petition argues. With the minimum wage of an unskilled laborer in Maharashtra set at ₹16,159 per month (equating to an annual income of ₹1,93,908), many individuals in genuine need of food security benefits are unjustly excluded due to these low thresholds.

Discrepancies in Government Welfare Schemes

The PIL further highlights glaring inconsistencies in Maharashtra’s welfare schemes. For instance, under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, a family with an annual income of up to ₹8 lakh qualifies for benefits.

However, under the NFSA, the same family would not be eligible for food security. This contradiction, according to the petitioners, demands a comprehensive and fair revision of welfare policies to ensure that vulnerable families are not deprived of food security benefits.

Food Price Inflation and Stagnant Income Limits

The petition also draws attention to the issue of food price inflation, which has averaged around 5.62% annually over the past decade.

While wage growth in urban areas has risen at about 6.36%, the income limits for the “priority household” category under NFSA have remained unchanged.

This disparity, the petitioners argue, is further shrinking the number of people qualifying for food security, aggravating the plight of low-income families.

Next Hearing on October 23, 2024

The Bombay High Court has adjourned the matter to October 23, 2024.

The court has asked the petitioner’s counsel to consult with their client, particularly regarding the suggestion to approach the Supreme Court with a contempt petition.

Party Details:

• Petitioner: Movement for Peace and Justice for Welfare (MPJ)
• Advocate: Hamza Lakdawala
• Respondent: State of Maharashtra
• Bench: Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar