The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider disbanding subsidised grains to those Above Poverty Line and instead restrict the facility to those Below Poverty Line in view of growing corruption and pilferages in existing Public Distribution System.

The apex court also suggested that the Centre/States examine the idea of taking over the fair price shop ownership from private dealers and instead operate it through a government mechanism to ensure effective implementation of PDS.

A Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma passed the directions while dealing with a 2001 PIL filed by Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) complaining about rampant corruption and mismanagement of PDS.

The apex court granted six weeks time to Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran to come out with the government’s response on the suggestions so that it could pass appropriate orders.

“People below poverty line are not able to get full benefits of PDS because you are extending the benefit to even those who are above the poverty line. When you and I can pay, why should it be extended to the above poverty line family?” the Bench told the ASG.

The apex court said if the existing subsidy is withdrawn from ABPL families, there would be enough foodgrains to those in the BPL category.

Citing the report submitted by Justice (retd) D P Wadhwa Committee on the functioning of PDS in the country, the apex court noted that the system was plagued by rampant corruption and pilferage.

“Justice Wadhwa committee report has stated that there is huge corruption and pilferage in PDS. Action has to be taken for total computerisation of the system,” the Bench said citing the Committee’s recommendations.(