KOCHI: Division bench of High Court ordered government to pay the commission dues by March 31st to ration shop owners who distributed free food kits during the covid period. The bench comprising Justice A Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice Shobha Annamma Eapen dismissed the appeals filed by government and Civil Supplies Corporation against the single bench's order to pay 11 months of commission backlogs.

The government issued an order to distribute food kits on April 6th, 2020. On July 23rd, 2020, it was decided to pay a commission at the rate of Rs 5 per kit. Considering the demand of the All Kerala Retail Ration Dealers Association, on July 30th, the commission amount was reduced to Rs 7. On February 19th, 2021, this was again reduced to five rupees. Only in August 2020, the government gave a commission at the rate of five rupees. The association approached the High Court stating that the kit was distributed for 11 months, but the commission was not paid. The government was of the view that ration shop owners have no right to demand a commission for distributing kits as a humanitarian service during Kovidu. However, the division bench clarified that the government cannot withdraw after deciding to pay a commission. The Division Bench also pointed out that Supreme Court has clarified that when the government accepts such services, it should be remunerated.