The Kerala High Court on Wednesday slammed the Chief Electoral Officer of the state for stopping the implementation of the state government’s new scheme for providing rice at Rs 2 per kg to all ration card holders.
A Division bench comprising of Chief Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Antony Dominic passed the orders while considering a petition filed by the CPI leader, Mr. Rajaji Mathew Thomas, challenging the CEC’s action.
The court expressed concern at the CEO’s decision and wondered what prompted it. The judges also pointed out that the scheme would be beneficial for the poor.
Further, the bench asked the Election Commission to explain its stand before the court and posted to Friday the hearing on the case.
The state government had recently decided to extend its Rs 2 per kg rice scheme to APL card holders too. But the CEC had stopped the implementation of the scheme saying it would violate the model code of conduct.
In his petition, Mr Thomas, MLA of Ollur, contended that the government was implementing its policy decision of market intervention to cut the price of essential commodities by introducing subsidised rice to the entire population in a phased manner.