Question
A petition by a human rights group drew attention of the court to the condition of starvation and hunger in the country. Over five crore tonnes of food grains was stored in the godowns of the Food Corporation of India. Research shows that a large number of ration cardholders do not know about the quantity of food grains they can purchase from fair price shops. It requested the court to order the government to improve its public distribution system.
a. Which different rights does this case involve? How are these rights interlinked?
b. Should these rights form part of the right to life?
Solution
(a) The different rights involved are Right to Equality, Right Against Exploitation, Right to life and Right to Constitutional Remedies .Every body is equal before the law and has equal protection of law. The fact that a large number of ration card holders do not know about the quality of food grains from ration shops makes it clear that they have not equal protection of law. The ration shop owners are exploiting these ignorant people. Thus right against Exploitation is involved. There are over five crore tonnes of food grains stored in the godowns of Food Corporation of India. Some of the people who do not have knowledge about the quantity of food they could buy from ration shops may starve in want of food. Thus Right to life is involved. The human rights group drew the attention of the court to the condition of starvation and hunger in the country utilizing the Right to Constitutional Remedies.
(b) Yes, all these rights should form part of the right to life.
(b) Yes, all these rights should form part of the right to life.
