​​​KOCHI: Giving a big solace to the government, the high court has stayed the action of the poll panel, halting the rice kit distribution of the state government to the non-weaker sections at subsidised rates through ration shops. From today(Tuesday) onwards the food kit distribution will be back to normal.

The verdict of the high court bench headed by Justice P V Asha comes on the plea submitted by the state government challenging the action of the poll panel which cancelled the state government’s move to distribute free rice kits at a rate of Rs 15 per 10 kilograms to white and blue ration cardholders in the months of March and April. Even though the court has allowed the distribution of rice kits, it has banned organising special ceremonies for it and using it for electoral gains.

Advocate General Ranjith Thampan who appeared for the state government in the court also said that this scheme was declared by the finance minister in the last budget and the government has also issued an order for the distribution of rice. The election was declared on February 26. Considering the unemployment and financial problems, the government has decided to distribute rice kits in the months of March and April. The government has also considered Vishu and Easter festival seasons. In the application filed on March 16 before the poll panel, the commission has recommended further extension of the food kit distribution which irked the state government.

The state government has also distributed rice kits in the months of June, July and August last year. Now, the state government has also received rice kits worth Rs 84 crore through open bidding from FCI. If the amount is not given within March 30, the bidding transaction will be cancelled. The government appealed to the court to grant nod to implement the programme which will benefit 50 lakh families in the state.

However, the advocate of the election commission informed the court that the screening committee led by the Chief Secretary has not said in its recommendations that the programme was a part of the budget speech and that it is implemented as a covid mitigation scheme. Since last August, no such rice kit distribution has taken place. Poll panel’s attorney also said that the distribution of food kits in the months of March and April will be a clear violation of the code of conduct. In this stage, the single bench asked whether an order issued before the publication of poll notification will breach the code of conduct? As the election commission didn’t have a clear answer to the court’s query, the court stayed the poll panel’s action and allowed the distribution of food kits.

Chief minister’s comment

“With this, the efforts of the opposition to block the rice kit distribution to the commoners in the state has ended in vain”

--Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan