Human Rights Law Network

PRESS RELEASE
6/1/11

On 23rd December 2010, Justice Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court issued an interim order recognizing the injustice embedded in India's Public Distribution Scheme. The case, Premlata w/o Ram Sagar & Ors. v. Govt. of NCT Delhi, W.P. Civ. 7687/2010, involves six destitute pregnant and lactating women who reside in Nangloi a western slum of Delhi, and have been denied their constitutional rights to food and reproductive and child health benefits since at least August 2009. Premlata underlines the inextricable connection between nutritional & food security and maternal health, and the need for increased monitoring and oversight of the government's Fair Price Shops (FPS). The Court ordered the government to organize a "camp" where all aggrieved card holders may have their ration cards sorted and reauthorized within 10 days time, and ordered the Asst. Food Commissioner to undertake an "intensive survey" of the FPSs' in the region and submit a status report as to his findings. As Justice Muralidhar explained,

"The Court is of the view that the monitoring of the fair price shops has to be tightened and poor persons ought not to be denied their entitlement to rations on account of non-functioning FPS . . . [the] purpose of this survey is to ensure that the FPSs function in a proper manner and the card holders are not deprived of the rations and other benefits to which they are
entitled. "

The case holds great promise in ensuring a more transparent and efficient delivery system of rations to India's poor, and reinforce the life-saving link between food and reproductive health services in ensuring safe motherhood. A copy of the order is attached.


Maternal mortality and morbidity is a global human rights concern. The maternal mortality ratio in India is higher than in 127 countries, including the neighboring states of Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, the Human Rights Law Network's Reproductive Rights Unit uses the legal system to obtain government accountability for reproductive rights violations, including preventable pregnancy-related deaths and disabilities.

For further details about the case, or to learn more about our work, please contact:

Sukti Dhital
Human Rights Law Network
Reproductive Rights Unit
Mob: 9711487238
sfdhital@gmail.com
www.hrln.org

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