The government had launched the e-ration card facilities in a bid to link it with the Aadhar Card but it was found that the genuine Aadhaar Card numbers were being used to create fake identities to issue illegal ration cards.

The Delhi government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the complaints of alleged irregularities during the transfer of old ration cards to new cards linked with Aadhar Cards under the National Food Security system in 2013.

The government had launched the e-ration card facilities in a bid to link it with the Aadhar Card but it was found that the genuine Aadhaar Card numbers were being used to create fake identities to issue illegal ration cards. It was also alleged that the people whose identities were being used for the creation of illegal ration cards weren’t aware of the fact that ration was being availed illegally at subsidised rates on their behalf.

Many people found that when they entered their Aadhar numbers in the ‘Track Food Security Application’ link on the website and found that the number was linked to the ration card of someone else.

Food and Supplies Minister Imran Hussain has now ordered the inquiry following instructions from Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, after he found mismatch in the details in some cards during the verification exercise conducted by the Food and Supplies Department.

Hussain has ordered a thorough inquiry to be conducted within 10 days and responsibility of the officials concerned to be fixed.

“Vigilance cases will be initiated against those who have committed gross irregularities and FIRs will be filed, if required,” the minister said.

He further said that the Food and Supplies Department will conduct a door-to-door survey for cross-checking of cards by establishing personal contact with card holders. The minister directed that the exercise, however, should not result in any harassment of card holders.

It has also been directed that during the door-to-door survey, wherever card holders are not found to be genuine, lists must be prepared containing all the details.

The state government had launched e-ration card facilities where people could check the status of their ration cards, distribution of rations, performance of officials of the department and so on. Through the online system, the real-time information about pendency and disposal of applications for food security and ration cards by inspectors and food and supply officers has been made available on the department’s website.

The citizens can visit the website and click on the link ‘date wise disposal of applications by inspector’, which has been provided on the Delhi government website. The online facility was to improve transparency in the functioning of the department. The department has 70 offices in the city, where applications for grant of food security can be submitted.