Minister conducts inspections, orders action against fair price shop’s owner

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Thursday conducted surprise inspections and ordered for sealing of a fair price shop here and strict action against erring owners of other such shops elsewhere.

Hussain made surprise visit to three circle offices of his department and five fair price shops in east Delhi, where he found several alleged irregularities.

"During an inspection of the Circle Offices at Rohtash Nagar, Seelampur, and Babarpur, no Food and Supply Officer and Food and Supply Inspector was found there. The Minister also noted very poor cleanliness in the offices," an official statement said.

The Minister later directed Food and Civil Supplies Commissioner to conduct an inquiry.

Of the five shops he visited, one was found closed, while discrepancies were found at other four, including improper display/non-display of shop boards, absence of prescribed information on notice boards on stocks and number of beneficiaries.

Hussain ordered the sealing of the shop found closed on a working day and directed officials for strict action against its owner, including suspension of its licence.

The departmental team seized records of four fair price shops for checking their compliance with provisions of the National Food Security Act and other guidelines.

The Minister directed for action, including suspension/cancellation of licences and lodging of FIR, against erring fair price shop owners.

At present, around 72.78 lakh people draw ration from shops under the Food and Civil Supplies Department in Delhi.

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