SC stays HC nod for Rs 2/kg rice scheme in Kerala

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Kerala High Court order allowing the state government to provide rice at Rs 2 per kg to all ration card holders.
A Bench comprising justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph issued a notice to the Kerala government on the petition filed by the Election Commission. The plea challenged the March 21 order of the high court, which rejected the EC’s petition to restrain the state government from implementing the scheme.
The high court had passed the order on a petition filed by CPI legislator Rajaji M Thomas challenging the EC order which prevented the government from implementing the scheme.
The apex court bench also sought a response from Thomas on the EC’s appeal. The bench said whether the commission had jurisdiction to pass such an order to stop the state government from implementing its welfare scheme when the election date has been announced would be examined later. The Election Commission had on Monday moved the apex court challenging the high court’s decision setting aside its order.
On the poll arena, BJP said its top leaders including leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will arrive in Kerala on April 7 to campaign in the upcoming state elections.
Other party leaders, who will arrive here for campaigning are BJP All India Secretary Ananthkumar, senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and All India Mahila Morcha President and television actress Smrithi Irani.
The leaders will address public meetings in various parts of Ernakulam district, the BJP said. PTI