State moves plea to permit all NPHH-S card holders to receive Pongal cash gifts

The state government represented by its Secretary, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection department, on noting that Non-priority household only for sugar (NPHH-S) card holders were also taking rice who subsequently shifted after the option of additional sugar was given by the government, said “Most of the families in NPHH-S category belong to an economically weaker background. However, the number of such families cannot be arrived at this juncture as the economic indices are not available, as the cards are issued based on residential proof only.”

However, with respect to the distribution of Pongal cash gift to the NPHH-S card holders, as many as 4.12 lakh out of the 10.11 lakh NPHH-S card holders have received the cash support of Rs 1,000 till January 9.

The balance card holders under this category, most of whom are from BPL category are affected and are highly disappointed by the non-receipt of the benefit, the plea said.

Based on this, the plea sought the court to modify the ad-interim order and permit NPHH-S card holders to receive the Pongal cash gift of Rs 1,000 pending disposal of the writ petition.

The plea is likely to come up before the division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam on Friday. Incidentally, the bench which granted the ad-interim stay refused to take up the plea for hearing on an urgent basis on Thursday.