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UTTAR PRADESH ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES (REGULATION OF SALE AND DISTRIBUTION CONTROL) ORDER, 2016

UTTAR PRADESH ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES (REGULATION OF SALE AND DISTRIBUTION CONTROL) ORDER, 2016

UTTAR PRADESH ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES (REGULATION OF SALE AND DISTRIBUTION CONTROL) ORDER, 2016

PREAMBLE

Whereas the State Government is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient so to do for maintaining the supplies of food grains and other Essential Commodities and for securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices under the targeted public distribution system.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Act No. 10 of 1955), read with the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) published under GSR 2013(E) dated March 20, 2015 and Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act No. 10 of 1897) and in supersession of Government Notification No. 4398/xxix-Food-6-18sa-01, dated December 20, 2004 (2005-LLT-V-31 [44]) the Governor is pleased to make the following order, namely

Order - 1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1)     This order may be called the Uttar Pradesh Essential Commodities (Regulation of Sale and Distribution Control) Order, 2016.

(2)     It extends to whole of Uttar Pradesh.

(3)     It shall come into force with effect from the date of its publication in the Gazette.

Order - 2. Definitions.

(1)     In this order, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a)      "Act" means the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Act No. 10 of 1955);

(b)      "Agent" means a person or a co-operative society or a corporation of the State Government authorized to run a Fair Price Shop under the provision of this order;

(c)      "Allocation Month" means the month in which food grains are allocated by Central Government and the State Governments for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System;

(d)      "Antyodaya Anna Yojana" means the scheme by the said name launched by the Central Government on the 25th day of December, 2000 and modified from time to time;

(e)      "Antyodaya Households" means those households identified by the State Government to receive food grains under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana;

(f)       "Appellate Authority" means an authority appointed under sub-clause (10) of Clause 11 of this order, so for enforcement of National Food Security Act, 2013 and rules framed under it by the State Government and the Divisional Commissioner of concerned Division of the State of Uttar Pradesh in relation to the appointment, suspension and cancellation of a fair price shop by the Competent authority who may delegate this power to the Joint Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner (Food) for hearing and disposal of Appeal.

(g)      "Authorized Agent" means the Food and Civil Supply Department of State Government or a body corporate or a company owned by it or a co-operative authorised by the State Government;

(h)     "Collector" includes District Magistrate and an officer authorised in written by him to perform all or any of his functions under this order;

(i)       "Commissioner" means Commissioner Food and Civil Supplies Department of Uttar Pradesh;

(j)       "Competent Authority" means Collector and includes Additional District Magistrate (Civil Supplies), District Supply Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Area Rationing Officer;

(k)      "Corporation" means the Food Corporation of India constituted under the Food Corporations Act, 1964 (37 of 1964);

(l)       "Designated Authority" means any officer not below the rank of Supply Inspector of the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the State but for rural areas it also includes Assistant Development Officer (Panchayat) or any officer authorised by the State Government;

(m)    "Eligible Households" means all those households who have been identified for the purpose under the National Food Security Act of 2013;

(n)     "Fair Price Shop" means a shop set up as directed by the State Government under this order for distribution of food grains, sugar, kerosene oil etc. under various orders of Central and State Government;

(o)      "Fair Price Shop Owner" means a person and includes a co-operative society authorized to run a fair price shop appointed under provisions of this order;

(p)      "Family" means group of following persons,

Head of the family.

Husband/Wife, including legally adopted children.

Adult children, who are fully dependent on the head of the family.

Unmarried, legally separated and widow daughters; and

Fully dependent Mother/Father, of the head of the family.

(q)      "Food Officer" means the Additional Food Commissioner, Joint Food Commissioner, Deputy Food Commissioner, District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate (Civil Supplies), District Supply Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Area Rationing Officer or any other officer authorized by the State Government in this behalf;

(r)      "Food Security Act" means the National Food Security Act, 2013 (20 of 2013);

(s)      "Local Authority" includes a Panchayat, Municipal Corporation or a Cantonment Board;

(t)       "One Ration Unit" means any person identified as a member of any eligible house hold;

(u)     "Rules" means Uttar Pradesh Food Security Rules, 2015;

(v)      "Scheduled Commodity" means food grains and commodities specified in the Schedule appended to this order and includes such other commodities which the State Government direct to be sold through a Fair Price Shop;

(w)     "Social Audit" means the process in which people collectively monitor and evaluate the planning and implementation of Targeted Public Distribution System in accordance with Section 10 of Uttar Pradesh Food Security Rules, 2015;

(x)      "State" means the State of Uttar Pradesh;

(y)      "State Government" means the Government of Uttar Pradesh;

(z)      (i) "Vigilance Committee" means a committee constituted under Rules 9 of a Uttar Pradesh Food Security Rules, 2015 to regularly supervise the functioning of Targeted Public Distribution System in the State;

(ii) Meeting of these committee shall be conducted in the time frame and manner as directed by State Government under this order;

(2)     Words and expressions not defined in this order but defined in the Act, or the Food Security Act, shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the said Acts.

Order - 3. Identification of eligible households.

(1)     The State Government shall, as soon as possible, identify.

(a)      the households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana; and

(b)      the priority households; 

in accordance with such guidelines including exclusion and inclusion criteria as may be notified by the State Government:

Provided that such guidelines shall be consistent with the Act.

(2)     The State Government may, at such intervals or any other time, as it may deem fit, re identify the eligible households;

(3)     The State Government may, if it deem fit, by notification, amend the guidelines from time to time and require fresh survey conducted for the identification of eligible households.

(4)     (i) The State-wise percentage coverage of eligible households under the Food Security Act in rural and urban areas respectively for receiving subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System shall be as in Column 4 of Annexure I.

(ii) Antyodaya households;

(iii) remaining to be covered under priority households category to be identified by State Government as per criteria to be evolved by them subject to the other provisions of this Order.

(5)     The State-wise ceiling on coverage of number of persons belonging to eligible households for receiving subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System, indicated in Column 5 of Annexure I, shall be under the two categories refer to in sub-clause (z).

(6)     The State-wise number of Antyodaya households shall not exceed the accepted number of Antyodaya households in the State, as specified by the competent authority from time to time.

(7)     The State Government shall prepare and notify the guidelines for identification of priority households in the rural and urban areas, with special focus on coverage of all the vulnerable or needy sections of the society, and display the guidelines in the public domain including on the State web portal.

(8)     For the purpose of allocation of subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System by the Central Government, there shall be no increase in the State-wise number of persons covered under Targeted Public Distribution System till the data from the next population Census.

(9)     The list of eligible households shall be drawn up by the designated authority in respect of area under their jurisdiction.

(10)   The State Government shall get the provisional list of eligible households displayed in the public domain including the office of the local authority and on the State web portal, showing the category-wise lists of eligible households and their members.

(11)   The State Government shall use the list of persons as compiled during Census of India by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner or voters list notified by Election Commission of India or Socio Economic and Caste Census data or any other authentic source of data to cross-check and verify the list of eligible households and their members.

(12)   The State Government shall prescribe the detailed procedure for finalization of the list of eligible households covering, inter alia, aspects like the process of drawing up of draft list, putting the draft list in the public domain including reading out of the list in meetings of the Gram Sabha or equivalent body in urban areas, inviting objections, disposal of objections, appeals and so on.

(13)   The head of the local authority and the designated authority shall jointly verify and certify the final list of eligible households and the local authority shall pass a resolution adopting the final list of the eligible households.

(14)   The final list of the eligible households shall be displayed in the public domain including office of the local authority and on the State web portal, shoing the category-wise names of eligible households and their members.

(15)   The State Government shall regularly review the list of the eligible households for the purpose of deletion of ineligible households or inclusion of eligible households.

(16)   During the review, the State Government shall take into account, inter alia the increase in the number of eligible households or their members due to migration in to the State, Birth, Marriage, change in social and economic status and the decrease in the number of eligible households or their members due to migration outside the State, death, marriage, change in social or economic status:

Provided that the total number of eligible households after the review shall not exceed the ceilings prescribed in sub-clauses (4) and (5).

Order - 4. Ration Cards.

(1)     The State Government shall issue ration cards to the eligible households as mentioned in the final list specified under sub-clause (14) of Clause 3:

Provided that while issuing ration cards to the eligible households, the Food Commissioner shall ensure that the coverage of the number of eligible households is not merely done with a view to exhausting the State-wise ceiling of number of eligible households.

(2)     The State Government shall issue a ration card only to a citizen of India who is resident of this State and who fulfills the conditions for getting a ration card as may be prescribed by the State Government:

Provided that the State Government may also issue a ration card to a household or a person residing in the State by virtue of the household or person being granted the status of a refugee and is allowed the entitlement of benefit on humanitarian grounds by the Central Government.

(3)     The State Government shall ensure that a ration card, whether paper based or a smart card, is issued for use under the Targeted Public Distribution System or schemes mentioned in the Food Security Act or a specific scheme of the State Government for distribution of essential commodities.

(4)     While issuing a smart card instead of ration cards the State Government shall ensure that a point of sale electronic device for reading the smart card is installed at the fair price shop.

(5)     The State Government shall issue separate and distinct ration cards to the Antyodaya households and the priority households.

(6)     Ration card shall not be used as a document of identity or proof of residence.

(7)     The State Government shall prescribe a suitable form of application for new ration card and modification in the existing ration card.

(8)     Any modification referred to in sub-clause (7) may be made on account of shifting of residence, birth or death, change in category of beneficiary, corrections in the details mentioned in the card or any other such reason.

(9)     The form referred to in sub-clause (7) may include requisite details including Aadhaar Number, Bank account details and mobile telephone number.

(10)   The Food Commissioner shall retain all the information under this clause in the software prepared by National Informatics Centre or as per the fields and standards prescribed by the Central Government.

(11)   The Food Commissioner shall maintain the ration card data in the digitized database and ensure that issue of a new ration card and modification in the existing ration card is undertaken through the software programme so that the database is automatically updated.

(12)   The State Government shall designate the authority and office for receiving, registering, acknowledging and processing of application for issuance of ration card or modification in the ration card.

(13)   The State Government may also prescribe the procedure for receiving the application through online mechanism including the use of e-service centers, kiosks.

(14)   The designated authority shall issue a ration card to an eligible applicant within a reasonable time not exceeding one month of the date of receipt of the application after necessary checks and verification.

(15)   The designated authority shall issue a ration card in replacement of existing ration card only when the existing ration card is lost or becomes unfit for use on account of being damaged or mutilated or is exhausted fully or where there are requests for modification in the ration cards.

(16)   The details of the services relating to the ration cards and timeframe for delivery of services shall be notified by the State Government and displayed in the public domain including on the State web portal.

(17)   The list of the ration card holders shall be displayed in the public domain including in the office of the local authority and on the State web portal, showing the category-wise names of the eligible households and their members.

(18)   The Food Commissioner shall make all endeavours to eliminate bogus or ineligible ration cards as a continuous exercise.

(19)   The Food Commissioner shall organize an annual special drive before the end of every financial year for the elimination of bogus or ineligible ration cards.

(20)   The State Government shall submit a report of ration cards deleted or cancelled on quarterly basis to the Central Government in the format at Annexure II.

(21)   The State Government may issue directions under this order to specify manner in which ration cards are to be issued from time to time.

Order - 5. Lifting of food grains by States.

(1)     The State Government shall lift food grains from the designated depots of the Corporation through its authorised agency.

(2)     The State Government shall, on getting allocation of food grains from the Central Government, issue allocation orders authorizing their agencies to lift food grains from the Corporation and such order among others shall specify.

(i)       number of cards and units;

(ii)      balance in hand; and

(iii)     allocation made for each month in respect of a fair price shop.

(3)     While making allocation to the fair price shop, designated authority shall take into account the balance stock, if any, lying undistributed with the fair price shop owner for the subsequent allocations.

(4)     The designated authority shall ensure that one copy of the allocation order made to the fair price shop is delivered to the local authority, vigilance committees, and any other body nominated by the State Government for monitoring the functioning of the fair price shop.

(5)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure that the allocation order depicting the stocks of food grants allotted during the month to the fair price shops is displayed on the public domain including on the State web portal.

(6)     Before taking delivery of food grains from the Corporation, an officer of the State government not below the rank of Food and Civil Marketing Inspector and an officer of the Corporation shall jointly inspect the stocks of food grains intended for issue to ensure that the stocks confirm to the prescribed quality specifications.

(7)     After the joint inspection, the Corporation shall issue to the State Government, before dispatch of food grains from godown, one stack-wise sealed sample jointly, drawn for display at the fair price shop and a duplicate sealed sample drawn shall be kept with the Corporation for future reference:

Provided that in case the authorized agency of the State Government takes delivery of food grains from the Corporation and stores the food grains in an intermediate godown before delivering them to the fair price shop dealers, the authorized agency shall follow the procedure under this sub-clause at that intermediate godown:

Provided further that where decentralized procurement of food grains is in operation in the States, the authorized agency of the State Government shall follow the procedure under this sub-clause.

(8)     The quantity of the samples to be drawn, retention period of the samples and disposal of the samples shall be as per the instructions issued by the Central Government from time to time.

(9)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure the lifting of food grains from the Corporation by the last day of the month proceeding the allocation month.

(10)   The extension of time for lifting of food grains from the Corporation may be considered by the Central Government or the Corporation only in very rare and deserving cases as per the instructions issued by the Central Government.

(11)   The Food Commissioner shall device suitable mechanism for transportation of food grains from the Corporation godown to the intermediate godown and the door-step delivery of the food grains to the fair price shop:

Provided that the State Government may also transport food grains directly to the fair price shop from the Corporation godown and ensure its door-step delivery to the fair price shop.

(12)   A report on quarterly basis shall be furnish by the State Government to the Central Government regarding door-step delivery in the format at Annexure III.

(13)   Necessary checks shall be exercised by the State Government to ensure that full quantity and the same quality of food grains as lifted by them reaches their godowns and in turn at the fair price shop.

Order - 6. Distribution of food grains by States.

(1)     The allocation of food grains made by the State Government to District under the Targeted Public Distribution System shall be used for distribution as per the provisions of the Food Security Act and not for any other purpose.

(2)     A utilization certificate shall be furnished every year by the State Government in the format as at Annexure IV.

(3)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure, through the authorized agency, physical delivery of food grains to the fair price shop by end of the month preceding the allocation month and in any case not later then the first week of the allocation month.

(4)     The Competent authority shall obtain a monthly certificate, including through electronic platform, confirming delivery of allocated food grains to the fair price shop and their distribution to eligible households during the allocation month from the designated officer and compilation of such all certificates of the Districts shall be made available to Commissioner through Joint Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner (Food) concerned.

(5)     The monthly certificate shall be jointly given by the following-

(i)       the fair price shop owner;

(ii)      two or more member, one being necessarily women, of the vigilance committee;

(iii)     the designated officer.

Order - 7. Appointment and regulation of fair price shops.

(1)     With a view to affecting fair distribution of food grains and scheduled commodities the State Government shall issue directions under Section 3 of the Act to such number of fair price shop in an area and in the manner as it deems fit.

(2)     (i) A fair price shop shall be run through such person and in such manner as the Collector, subject to the directions of the State Government may decide;

(ii) A person appointed to run a fair price shop under sub-clause (1) shall act as the agent of the State Government;

(iii) A person appointed to run a fair price shop under sub-clause (1) shall sign an agreement, as directed by the State Government regarding running of the fair price shop as per the draft appended to this order before the competent authority prior to the coming with effect of the said appointment.

(3)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure that the number of ration card holders attached to a fair price shop are reasonable, the fair price shop is so located that the consumer or ration card holder does not have to face difficulty to reach the fair price shop and that proper coverage is ensured in hilly, desert, tribal and such other areas difficult to access.

(4)     The State Government shall fix an amount as the fair price shop owner's margin, which shall be periodically reviewed for ensuring sustained viability of the fair price shop operations.

(5)     The Food Commissioner shall put in place a mechanism to ensure the release of fair price shop owner's margin without any delay.

(6)     The State Government shall allow sale of commodities other than the food grains and other scheduled commodities distributed under the Targeted Public Distribution System at the fair price shop to improve the viability of the fair price shop operations.

Order - 8. Operation of fair price shops.

(1)     The fair price shop owner shall disburse food grains to the ration card holders as per his entitlement under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

(2)     A ration card holder may draw his full entitlement of food grains in more than one installment.

(3)     The fair price shop owner shall not retain the ration cards after the supply of the food grains.

(4)     The license issued by the State Government to the fair price shop owner shall lay down the duties and responsibilities of the fair price shop owner, which shall include, inter alia,

(i)       sale of food grains as per the entitlement of ration card holders under the Targeted Public Distribution System at the prescribed retail issue price;

(ii)      display of information on a notice board at a prominent place in the shop on daily basis regarding (a) entitlement of food grains, (b) scale of issue, (c) retail issue prices, (d) timings of opening and closing of the fair price shop including lunch break, if any, (e) stock of food grains received during the month, (f) opening and closing stock of food grains, (g) the mechanism including authority for redressal of grievances with respect to quality and quantity of food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System, and (h) Toll-free helpline number;

(iii)     maintenance of the records of ration card holders, e.g. stock register, issue or sale register shall be in the form prescribed by the State Government including in the electronic format in a progressive manner;

(iv)    display of samples of food grains being supplied through the fair price shop; (v) production of books and records relating to the allotment and distribution of food grains to the inspecting agency and furnishing of such information as may be called for by the designated authority;

(v)      the shop keeper shall in the end of each month submit a detail description of receipt of food grain and other essential commodities, actual distribution during the month and remaining balance of stock to designated officer who will sent a compilation of all such certificates under his area of appointment to the competent authority.

(vi)    opening and closing of the fair price shop as per the prescribed timings displayed on the notice board.

(5)     Any ration card holder desirous of obtaining extracts from the records of a fair price shop owner may make a written request to the owner along with the deposit of the fees specified by order by the State Government. The fair price shop owner shall provide such extracts of records to the ration card holder within fourteen days from the date of receipt of a request and the said fee:

Provided that the State Government may prescribe the period for which the records are to be kept for providing the ration card holder by the fair price shop owner.

(6)     The State Government shall prescribe the procedure to be followed by the designated authority in cases where the fair price shop owner does not provide the records in the manner referred in sub-clause (5) to the ration card holder in the stipulated period and the designated authority in each case shall ensure that the records are provided to the ration card holder without any undue delay.

(7)     The Competent authority shall take prompt action in respect of violation of any condition of license including any irregularity committed by the fair price shop owner, which may include suspension or cancellation of the fair price shop owner's license.

(8)     The maximum period within which proceedings relating to enquiry into irregularities committed by the fair price shop owner shall be concluded, resulting in any action as under sub-clause (7) shall be two months.

(9)     In case of suspension or cancellation of the agreement, the Competent authority shall make alternative arrangements for ensuring uninterrupted supply of food grains to the eligible households:

Provided that in case of cancellation of the agreement of the fair price shop owner, new agreement shall be issued within a month of cancellation.

(10)   The State Government shall furnish complete information on action taken against a fair price shop owner under this clause annually to the Central Government in the format at Annexure V.

Order - 9. Monitoring.

(1)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure regular inspections of fair price shops not less than once in a week by the designated authority in urban area and twice in a month in rural area by the designated authority concerned.

(2)     The Food Commissioner shall ensure that stocks of food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System, as issued from the Corporation godowns, are not replaced or tampered with during storage, transit or any other stage till delivery to the ration card holder.

(3)     Any authority or any person authorized by the Food Commissioner it in this behalf or any other person, who is engaged in the distribution and handling of food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System, shall not indulge in substitution or adulteration or diversion or theft of stocks at any stage till delivery to the ration card holder.

Explanation. For the purpose of this clause,

(a)      "diversion" means unauthorized movement or delivery of food grains released from godowns but not reaching the intended beneficiaries under the Targeted Public Distribution System;

(b)      "substitution" means replacement of food grains released from godowns with the same articles of inferior quality for distribution to the intended beneficiaries under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

(4)     The State Government shall set up vigilance committees for the Targeted Public Distribution System at the State, District, Block and fair price shop levels as per the provisions of the Food Security Act to perform functions as specified in the said Act as already specified in Section 9 of Uttar Pradesh Food Security Rules, 2015.

(5)     Meetings of the vigilance committees shall be held at least once in every quarter of calendar year as specified in Section 9(3) of Uttar Pradesh Food Security Rules, 2015.

(6)     The Food Commissioner through State Government shall send a report annually to the Central Government on the functioning of vigilance committees in the format at Annexure VI.

(7)     The number of meetings held by the vigilance committees shall be displayed on the State web portal and the action taken on issues discussed in meetings of vigilance committees shall be reviewed in the next meeting.

(8)     The State Government shall notify an internal grievance redressal mechanism which shall include toll free call centers and use of State web portal.

(9)     The Food Commissioner shall give wide publicity to the up-to-date details of the Grievance Redressal Officer such as name, telephone number including mobile number, office address and the grievance redressal mechanism.

(10)   The State Government may appoint or designate, officers as the District Grievance Redressal Officer, as provided in the Uttar Pradesh State Food Security Rules, 2015.

(11)   An appeal against the order of the District Grievance Redressal Officer shall be preferred before the State Food Commission constituted under Section 16 of the Uttar Pradesh State Food Commission Rules, 2015.

(12)   The Food Commissioner shall furnish a report on quarterly basis to the State Government regarding the handling of grievances in the format at Annexure VII.

(13)   The Food Commissioner shall issue and adopt a Citizen's Charter as stipulated under law or based on the model Citizen's Charter issued by the Central Government.

(14)   The Food Commissioner shall prescribe a system of periodic reporting, including through electronic platform, at various levels within the State regarding the functioning of fair price shops.

(15)   The Food Commissioner shall ensure monitoring of the end-to-end operations of the Targeted Public Distribution System through the electronic platform.

Explanation. For the purpose of this sub-clause "end-to-end operations" shall include activities relating to digitization of beneficiary, ration cards, and other databases, computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portal, grievance redressal mechanism and fair price shop automation.

(16)   The Food Commissioner shall take necessary steps to educate the ration card holders regarding their rights and privileges by the use of electronic and print media as well as display boards outside the fair price shops.

Order - 10. Transparency and accountability.

(1)     All Targeted Public Distribution System related records shall be placed in the public domain and kept open for inspection to the public in the manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(2)     Every local authority or any other authority authorized by the State Government which shall conduct or cause to be conducted periodic, social audits on the functioning of fair price shops of Targeted Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes after giving fifteen days notice to the said shops or schemes and concerned authorities in accordance with such guidelines as may be notified from time to time by the State Government.

(3)     The State Government may, if it considers necessary, conduct or cause to be conducted social audit through independent agencies having experience in conduct of such audits.

Order - 11. Penalty.

If any person contravenes any of the provisions of this order he shall be liable to punishment under Section 7 of the Act.

Order - 12. Power of search and seizure.

(1)     The Commissioner, the food officer, the competent authority and designated officer may within his jurisdiction with such assistance if any, as he thinks fit

(a)      require the owner, occupier or any other person in charge of any place, premises, vehicles or vessels in which he has reason to believe that any contravention of the provisions of this order has been or is being, or is about to be made, to produce any book, account or other documents showing transaction relating to such contravention;

(b)      enter, inspect or break open and search any place or premises, vehicle or vessel in which he has reason to believe that any contravention of the provisions of this order has been or is being or is about to be made;

(c)      examine and seize any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such officer may be useful for or relevant to any proceeding under this order and return such books of accounts and documents to the person from whom they were seized after copies thereof or extracts there from as may be considered necessary and certified by the person to be correct have been taken.

(2)     The provisions of Section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act No. 2 of 1974) relating to search shall as far as may be applied to search under this order.

Order - 13. Appeal.

(1)     Appeal in relation to action or subject covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and rules framed under it shall lie before the authority mentioned in subclause (10) of Clause 11 of this order but appeal against appointment, suspension and cancellation of fair price shop by the Competent Authority shall lie before the Divisional Commissioner.

(2)     Any person aggrieved by an order of the Designated Authority denying the issue or renewal of a ration card or cancellation of the ration card under the National Food Security Act, 2013 may appeal to the Appellate Authority within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order.

(3)     Any person aggrieved by an order of the Competent Authority denying the issue or renewal of the agreement to the fair price shop owner, suspension or cancellation of the agreement may appeal to the Appellate Authority namely the Divisional Commissioner or the Joint Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner (Food) authorized by him in writing to hear and dispose appeal within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order and the Appellate Authority shall, as far as practicable, dispose the appeal within a period of sixty days:

Provided that once an appeal has been disposed of by the Appellate Authority, the time for issue or renewal of the agreement of the fair price shop owner by the Competent Authority referred to in sub-clause (9) of Clause 10 shall begin from the date of decision of the Appellate Authority on the appeal:

Provided further that an appeal pending before an Appellate Authority appointed under the Uttar Pradesh Schedule Commodities Distribution Order, 2004 shall be disposed of by such authority as if this order had not been made.

(4)     Mo appeal shall be disposed of unless the aggrieved person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(5)     Pending the disposal of an appeal, the Appellate Authority may direct that the order under appeal shall not take effect for such period as the authority may consider necessary for giving a reasonable opportunity to the other party under sub-clause (4) or until the appeal is disposed of, whichever is earlier.

Order - 14. Protection of action taken under this order.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Order.

Order - 15. Power of Central Government to give directions.

The State Government may give such directions as it may deem necessary to the Food Commissioner for execution of all or any of the provisions of this order.

Order - 16. Unlawful ration card.

(1)     No person shall manufacture, prepare, print or keep in his possession any blank ration card or any seal or stamp which is used or likely to be used for preparation of unlawful ration cards or use such ration cards for receiving any scheduled commodities.

(2)     No person shall knowingly receive or use, or assist any one in receiving or using any unlawful ration card or receive on assist in receiving any scheduled commodities except on a valid ration card.

(3)     No public servant shall wilfully or knowingly issue or held in issuing an unlawful ration card to any person.

Order - 17. Condition to the (sic be) observed by the agent.

The agent shall observe such condition as the State Government or the Collector may by an order in writing direct from time to time, in respect of opening of shop, maintenance of stocks, supply and distribution of scheduled commodities maintenance of accounts, keeping of the register filing returns and issue of receipt of identity card holder and other matters.

Order - 18. Ban or Transfer of agency.

No person authorized as agent by the Competent Officer shall appoint as such agent or transfer his agency to any other person by any means whatsoever and no person other that the person authorized as agent shall carry on business either as a sub-agent or as a transferee from the agent or otherwise on behalf of such agent.

Order - 19. Validation.

Any act performed under the provision of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Commodities Distribution Order, 2004 which is hereby repealed prior to commencement of this order shall be deemed to have been validity performed under the provisions of this order.

Order - 20. Provisions of the order to prevail over previous orders of State Government.

The provisions of this order shall have effect not withstanding anything to the contrary contained in any order made by the State Government before the commencement of this order except as respects anything done, or omitted to be done thereunder before such commencement.

SCHEDULE

[See Clause 2(v)]

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Wheat

Rice

Pulses

Atta

Sugar

 

6.

7.

8.

9.

Edible Oil

Kerosene Oil

Coarse Grains

Salt

SCHEDULE

[See Clause 7(2)]

Draft Agreement to be proposed after DFA Control order is finalized