The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Assam took a decision, conveyed vide a letter under Memo no. DS.81/2020/516-A dated 07.08.2021, to tag the ration cards of Fair Price Shops having 50 or less than 50 ration cards with the nearest Fair Price Shops having more than 50 ration cards under a scheme named One Nation One Ration Card [ONORC] Scheme. Subsequent to the said decision, the licence of the petitioner was not renewed subsequent to 31.03.2022. The petitioner has asserted that he is a specially abled person suffering from 40% permanent disability and the said fact has been certified by the Medical Authority, Goalpara Assam. Since a policy decision has already been taken by the State Government in its Cabinet Meeting, held on 19.10.2021, to exempt the Fair Price Shops having 50 or less than 50 ration cards the owners of which are either widows and specially abled persons from the purview of the One Nation One Ration Card [ONORC] Scheme, the decision not to renew PDS licence of the petitioner issued under the APDA Order, 1982 beyond 31.03.2022 was improper and unauthorized.
