The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a petition that claimed lakhs of people in West Bengal were being denied Public Distribution System (PDS) benefits after their names were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. A Bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the petitioner, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, to approach the Calcutta High Court instead.
Petitioner Alleges Mass Exclusion from Ration List
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Prasanna Kumar, argued that between 35 lakh and 60 lakh ration cards could become inactive due to the state government's verification exercise. He submitted that all individuals whose names were excluded during the SIR were now being targeted for removal from the PDS ration list, causing significant hardship. Many beneficiaries face the risk of losing access to subsidized food grains, he added.
Court Directs Petitioner to High Court
The Bench noted that the Calcutta High Court is functioning and asked the petitioner to move the matter there. When the counsel mentioned that the SIR exercise had previously been upheld by the Supreme Court, the Bench clarified that the issue of ration cards constituted a separate cause of action. Justice Nagarathna stated, “Please take it to the high court.” The court refused to entertain the plea for urgent listing.
State Government's June 4 Order on PDS Verification
The West Bengal Food and Supplies Department on June 4 issued an order mandating a statewide verification exercise to identify and remove ineligible beneficiaries from the PDS. The order linked the verification process directly to the outcome of the recent SIR of electoral rolls. The exercise, originally scheduled for completion by June 15, targeted ration card holders whose names were deleted or found ineligible during the SIR.
Categories of Beneficiaries Under Scrutiny
The verification covers several categories of individuals: those marked as absentee, shifted, dead, or duplicate (ASDD) electors; persons whose applications were rejected during the SIR process; individuals deleted after adjudication; and electors identified as ASDD during the distribution of Voter Information Slips before the 2026 Assembly elections. The department clarified that beneficiaries who have filed appeals before the SIR tribunal or have submitted applications under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will remain active in the ration card database until their appeals or applications are disposed of.
Impact on Food Security
The petitioner's counsel highlighted that the exclusion from PDS could severely affect food security for vulnerable populations. Many of those deleted from electoral rolls are now at risk of losing access to essential food supplies. The petitioner challenged a May 19 notification issued by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, as well as the June 4 order, arguing that the linkage between electoral rolls and PDS eligibility is arbitrary and violates constitutional rights.
Background of Special Intensive Revision
The SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal had earlier been challenged in the Supreme Court, which upheld the process. However, the current petition raises a distinct issue regarding the subsequent denial of PDS benefits based on the revised electoral rolls. The Supreme Court's refusal to entertain the plea means the matter will now be heard by the Calcutta High Court.
