Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has ‘concurred’ with the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) proposal for suspension of e-PoS system in the distribution of ration in the national capital. The L-G has also referred the matter of misuse of one time password (OTP) authentication in the e-PoS to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).

A statement issued by the L-G office said that Anil Baijal received the proposal for suspension of e-PoS devices from the Chief Minister and Food and Supplies Minister and concurred with the same.

The statement said since CM and F&S Minister had also made serious allegations of fraudulent withdrawal of rations by misuse of OTPs authentication in the e-PoS system, the L-G, in view of the seriousness of the allegations made for expeditious investigation, has referred the entire matter to the ACB.

“L-G also assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty,” the statement said.

The statement said that e-PoS would have met the goal of ensuring that while no eligible beneficiary is denied entitlement of food grains, at the same time, no ineligible beneficiary is allowed to avail the benefits which are intended for the poor and the needy. But since the proposal has been received again, L-G concurred with it.

As regards the government’s proposal of doorstep delivery of services, L-G reiterated that the same was never rejected.

The statement said that the L-G hoped that sufficient safeguards are being put in place by the elected government in the proposed doorstep delivery scheme, since the same e-PoS machines, whose operation is being suspended now, are proposed to be used for biometric authentication of the beneficiaries in the door step delivery scheme also.

The statement said that if the elected government is convinced that sufficient checks and balances have been put in place in the proposed doorstep delivery of ration scheme and the issues highlighted by him have been addressed, the L-G has no objection to implementation of the same.

“However,” the statement said, “the statutory requirement of seeking prior approval of Central Government under Section 12(2)(h) of the National Food Security Act, 2013 as pointed out by the Law Department in its note in the concerned file would have to be met before the scheme is implemented”.

“L-G hoped that action would be taken expeditiously by the elected government as per the advice of Law Department so that there is no further loss of time,” the statement read.