Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 27: High Court directed the Assistant Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Shopian to release Subsidized Kerosene Oil (SKO) to the public for the month of February in terms of orders of Government and Additional Deputy Commissioner Shopian.
Justice Sanjay Dhar while hearing the petition of Kerosene Oil Dealers Coordination Committee directed the Assistant Director to release SKO to the public in terms and on the rates of orders of FCS&CA and Additional Deputy Commissioner Shopian.
The counsel appearing for the Coordination Committee, Arif Skinder, projected the case before the court that on the recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner Shopian the Government had released quota of SKO as 3.5 liter in respect of ration ticket holders of the district.
He further added that thereafter the Additional Deputy Commissioner directed the Assistant Commissioner concern to ensure smooth distribution of the SKO to all ration ticket holder at 3.5 liters per ration ticket for the month of February.
Advocate Skinder contended that inspite of these orders, the Assistant Commissioner in derogation of all orders of the Government released only 3 liters of SKO to per ration ticket instead of 3.5 liters. “Till next date of hearing before the bench the Assistant Commissioner is directed to release SKO for the month of February according to the Government order and orders of Additional Deputy Commissioner”, Justice Dhar directed.
Court however has made it clear that in case the Kerosene Oil dealers fail to project their case on the issue then the excess SKO shall be subsidized or recovered in subsequent months. Court in view of the urgency involved in the matter said, it is required to be disposed of on next date of hearing and fixed the matter for further consideration of March 15 so that the authorities may filed their response in the case.
It is about 54 Kerosene Oil Dealers have approached the court challenging the order of Assistant Director by asking the dealers to distribute the SKO for the month of February as 3 liters to per ration card holder instead of 3.5 liters as prescribed by the higher authorities.
“The Assistant Director has invoked the Rule 6(2) of the SRO 285 and restricted the release of SKO to only 3 liters while as Government in terms of Tule 10 of SRO 285 has relaxed the said rule and allocated additional SKO to the district Shopian which as per the said SRO is in contravention of the Government orders”, reads the petition.
As the pleadings of the dealers the district Shopian has 6217 families and releasing of SKO at 3 liters per family would mean releasing 186 KLS for the district as such the orders of Assistant Director is bereft of any logic and the same is being sought to be quashed the by court.
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