- (1.) In pursuance to the directions of this Court, Smt. Alka Sirohi, Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, New Delhi has filed a comprehensive affidavit, a copy of which was handed over to us by the learned Additional Solicitor General in Court, which is taken on record. A serious endeavour has been made to give a clear answer to all the queries raised by us in our last order. Learned Counsel for the petitioner, the Dealer's Associations and the State Governments may file reply to this affidavit within a week from today.
(2.) In reply to the Court's query why the facilities of the Public Distribution System be not discontinued for people who are Above Poverty Line, a comprehensive reply has been filed in which it is mentioned that after meeting the total allocation of the population in the categories of Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Below Poverty Line, the remaining foodgrains are allocated to the States and the Union Territories for distribution to Above Poverty Line population. That is precisely what the Court had in mind when the previous order was passed.
(3.) It is also indicated in the affidavit that the Union of India making allocation to the States @ 35 Kgs. per family. In reply to the Court's query that to avoid pilferage and corruption there must be total computerization of Public Distribution System on a priority basis. The Court also observed that the Union of India must prepare a common software for all the States. It was also indicated in the previous order that the Union of India may consider computerization in consultation with the specialized agencies like the Unique Identification Authority of India or any other agencies. In reply to that, it is mentioned that the Department of Food and Public Distribution has taken up several initiatives for computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (for short 'TPDS').;