RTI for Ration Card Deletion, Aadhaar Seeding and Food Grain Entitlement

Use this guide if (a) your card is suddenly “not in list” at the FPS; (b) a family member's name has been dropped; © you want the Aadhaar seeding log; (d) the FPS dealer is short-supplying food grain or charging extra; (e) AAY (Antyodaya) status was lost; (f) PMGKAY entitlement was missed.

• National Food Security Act 2013, Sections 3, 9, 10: entitlements, eligibility lists and grievance redressal.
• NFSA Rules and State Targeted PDS Control Orders.
• One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and PMGKAY circulars by Department of Food and Public Distribution.
• RTI Act 2005, Sections 6 and 7(1).

The Supreme Court has repeatedly directed states to maintain transparent, hearing-based processes before deletion (eg Swaraj Abhiyan v Union of India (2016)), and many High Courts have set aside deletions made without notice under Section 9 of NFSA read with Article 14.

1. Identify the right PIO. Three layers: (1) Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs at state level; (2) District Supply Officer (DSO) or Collector's Office (Food); (3) Tehsil-level Sub-Inspector / Inspector of Supplies.
2. Pin the card. Ration card number, family head, FPS code, taluka, beneficiary IDs of each member, latest entitlement record.
3. Use the body's own redressal first. Most states have a PDS grievance number and a District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) under NFSA Section 14.
4. Draft the RTI asking for the deletion order with reason, the hearing notice issued, the Aadhaar seeding log, the FPS register, the DSO inspection register and the present file location.
5. Pay ₹10 fee through online RTI or IPO.
6. Wait 30 days then escalate.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
Office of the District Supply Officer / Department of Food and Civil Supplies, [District / State]
[Full address]

Subject: RTI under Section 6 regarding ration card no. [number], FPS code [number], family head [Name]

Sir / Madam,

I, [Full name], a citizen of India, holder / member of ration card no. [number], request the following under the RTI Act 2005. Fee of Rs. 10 paid online / by IPO.

For the family card no. [number], FPS code [number], with members [list]:

1. Present status of the card (active / suspended / cancelled / deleted) as on the date of receipt.
2. Copy of any deletion order, suspension order or hold-flag entry, with date and signatory.
3. Reason recorded in writing for the deletion / suspension, citing rule and Section.
4. Copy of the show-cause notice issued to me under NFSA Section 9 / state Control Order, with proof of dispatch.
5. Aadhaar seeding log for each member (date, mode of authentication, success / failure status).
6. FPS register entries for each month from [date] to [date], showing entitlement against actual offtake.
7. DSO inspection register entry for the FPS for the said period.
8. Whether the FPS dealer has been issued any show-cause / penalty for short supply.
9. Status of my representation dated [DD/MM/YYYY], if any, including ticket number and present custodian.
10. Standard Operating Procedure for deletion / suspension under your latest Control Order.

I invoke Section 10 (severability) and Section 6(3) (transfer to right office). I undertake to pay further fee under Section 7(3).

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, name, date]

• Not citing NFSA Section 9. It mandates publication of eligibility list and notice before deletion. Quote it.
• Filing with the FPS dealer. Dealer is not a public authority. Address the DSO / department.
• Forgetting the DGRO. Section 14 of NFSA mandates a District Grievance Redressal Officer in every state with a fixed timeline.
• Mixing Aadhaar seeding with deletion. Seeding failure is a process issue. Deletion needs an order; seeding does not.
• Asking for action only. Stay record-shaped; the deletion order itself is the prize.

• No reply in 30 days → First Appeal under Section 19(1).
• DGRO / state appellate → NFSA grievance route.
• State Food Commission under NFSA Section 16.
• Writ in High Court for arbitrary deletion without notice.
• Vigilance if FPS dealer is diverting grain.

No. NFSA Section 9 and most state Control Orders require notice and an opportunity to be heard before deletion.

No. Per-member entitlement is fixed. The FPS register and the e-PoS log are the proof.

One Nation One Ration Card lets you draw your entitlement at any FPS in India. If your local FPS is hostile, you can use ONORC at another shop in the same district while you fight the deletion.

Ask the DSO via RTI for the live entitlement file and the e-PoS log. If your card is active there, the FPS is at fault.

Yes, but only after a death certificate is recorded and a deletion order is issued.

Generally no. Most states require physical RTI to the state authority and the DSO.

Yes, it is your own record, fully disclosable.

• NFSA 2013: dfpd.gov.in
• Department of Food and Public Distribution: dfpd.gov.in
• National Food Security Portal: nfsa.gov.in
• ONORC: impds.nic.in
• RTI Online: rtionline.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.

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