HC seeks govt's reply in plaint by ration dealers

Kochi: The high court on Thursday asked the state government to respond to a petition filed by ration dealers seeking to avoid use of biometric authentication for distributing ration articles as it could allegedly cause spread of Covid-19 .

Justice Anu Sivaraman asked the government to respond to the petition filed by All Kerala Ration Dealers Association through advocate Soloman Baby.

The association has challenged the provision in a circular issued by the government directing ration dealers to compulsorily use biometric or fingerprint authentication for portability ration card holders. Such a stipulation would put the ration dealers, their employees, their families, and the entire society at risk of Covid-19, it is alleged.

A ration dealer in Palakkad district has been tested positive for Covid-19. Her licence was suspended following this and it has resulted in loss of earnings and livelihood for her family, the association pointed out. Similar cases were reported in Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Palakkad, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts, the petition said.

Ration shops situated in major cities such as Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will have to deal with many portability ration card holders, which may result in the spread of Covid-19, they said. tnn