BENGALURU: Claiming that the Aadhaar-based biometric coupon system introduced for the public distribution system (PDS) is causing inconvenience, a group of BPL card-holders from Shivamogga district have challenged it before the High Court.
Hearing the PIL on Thursday, a division bench of Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice R B Budihal issued notice to the respondents before adjourning the hearing for two weeks.
The respondents are Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Deputy Commissioner, Shivamogga, and Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies.
In the petition, one Rajeshwari and nine others from Bedarakeri and others parts of Shivamogga, contended that the centres authorised by the Food and Civil Supplies Department are collecting `30 from each BPL card holder for issuing biometric coupons, though these are to be distributed free of cost.
The petitioners also claimed that starting August, fair price shops are distributing food grains and kerosene on unit basis. This means that the benefits are being given based on the number of people shown in the BPL card. Therefore, the BPL card-holders are facing hardship and mental agony on account of introduction of Aadhaar-based coupon system, they said.
The petitioners have asked the court to quash the order dated July 21, 2016, mandating Aadhaar-based biometric coupon system for BPL card-holders.