The Supreme Court, dismissing a petition by the Tamil Nadu government, has asked it to file a fresh suit challenging the Centre’s decision to reduce allocation of kerosene to the state by 55% from June 2011, from 65,140 kilolitres (kl) to 29,060 kl per month.
The cut in allocation, which the state called arbitrary and discriminatory, was made by the previous UPA government.
A bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu said the state should have filed a civil suit rather than a writ petition.
The state’s entitlement, according to its ration card holders, is 65,140 kl per month against the present allotment of 29,060 kl.
When J Jayalalithaa was CM, the state had written to PM Narendra Modi asking him to ensure allotment of the monthly requirement of over 65,000-kl. She had also made several representations to the central government led by the UPA for enhancing PDS-SKO (Public Distribution System- Superior Kerosene Oil) allocation to the required quantity.
Instead of considering the pleas, the Centre on July 22, 2011, replied that in view of LPG coverage of 77% in the state, due to lapse of the quota allocated and higher consumption with respect to the national average, the allocation was reduced.