Kerala High Court allows Rs 2 a kg rice

he Kerala High Court on Monday set aside Election Commission curbs on giving rice at Rs 2 per kg to all ration card holders in the state.

The HC bench, headed by Chief Jusitce J Chelameswar, allowed the state government to continue with its scheme, on which the EC had put curbs ahead of state Assembly polls on April 13.

Communist Party of India MLA Rajaji Mathew Thomas had moved the High Court against the EC directive.

He had pointed that Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan had announced the scheme in the Assembly on Feb 24 and the orders were issued on Feb 25. The election date was announced three days later.

Thomas had further maintained that it was an extension of an old scheme under which ration card holders below the poverty line were given rice at Rs 2 per kg.