Delhi tightens ration shop rules with mandatory FIRs, blacklisting for major stock lapses

Delhi ration shop dealers will now face clearly defined penalties for stock discrepancies including mandatory FIRs and blacklisting for major violations under a new regulatory framework that replaces a nearly fourdecadeold orderThe Delhi Specified Articles Regulation of Distribution Order 2026 notified by the Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department on July 24 introduces a kilogramwise penalty system for Fair Price Shop FPS dealersThe move marks a significant shift from the 1981 framework under which action against dealers was largely left to officials discretion and there were no fixed penalties tied to the quantity of stock found shortUnder the new rules a stock variation of 2550 kg will result in forfeiture of Rs 2000 from the dealers performance guarantee with the shortfall required to be made good within seven daysFurther the new rules states that for a discrepancy of 50100 kg Rs 10000 will be forfeited and the dealers licence will be suspended immediately as an interim measure followed by proceedingsWhere the variation exceeds 100 kg the entire performance guarantee will be forfeited the licence suspended and an FIR will be mandatorily registered under Sections 7 andor 10 of the Essential Commodities Act 1955The new rules also prescribe action for other lapses including failure to display mandatory information tampering with ePoS devices fire safety violations unhygienic storage and discourteous behaviour towards beneficiariesSuch violations can attract forfeiture of up to Rs 25000 andor cancellation proceedingsRepeated or deliberate violations including diversion or manipulation of supplies under the public distribution system will be treated as aggravating factors and can lead to cancellation of the licence blacklisting and an FIRThe earlier Delhi Specified Articles Regulation of Distribution Order 1981 did not prescribe fixed monetary penalties for stock shortagesIt allowed the Deputy Commissioner to amend suspend or cancel a dealers authorisation and forfeit part or all of the security deposit on a casebycase basisExisting licensees have been given 12 months to shift to the new onetime licence by paying Rs 5000 and meeting the revised eligibility requirementsThese include a minimum Class 12 qualification for dealers appointed after July 2015The new order also changes the way ration shops will be licensed and selectedAccording to the new rules FPS licences will now be of two types regular licences which do not require periodic renewal and remain valid until suspended or cancelled and temporary licences valid for up to three months to meet urgent gaps in the distribution networkThe eligibility pool has also been widened Besides individuals selfhelp groups cooperative societies NGOs partnership firms limited liability partnerships and companies can apply for FPS licencesInstitutional entities can operate up to five FPS outlets in a revenue district subject to an overall limit prescribed by the governmentFor the first time the department has introduced a pointsbased selection systemApplicants will be assessed on factors including suitability of premises operational capability financial viability social category and local residency as well as readiness to comply with ePoS requirementsThe performance guarantee will also depend on the number of ration cards attached to a shop Dealers will have to furnish Rs 50000 for up to 500 cards Rs 75000 for 501750 cards and Rs 1 lakh for more than 750 cardsThe new rules further require all FPS outlets to use departmentapproved ePoS machines along with weighing scales and iris scannersRation shops will observe a weekly holiday on Mondays and remain closed on Republic Day Independence Day and Gandhi JayantiThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever