State Of U.P. & Anr vs Zila Parishad Ghaziabad & Anr

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision to quash the State Government's order withdrawing the Public Distribution System (PDS) through Gram Panchayats, emphasizing the importance of equitable distribution of essential commodities as mandated by the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, particularly Section 5. The Court reiterated that the delegation of powers to Gram Panchayats is consistent with the objectives of the PDS and the constitutional provisions under Article 243-G. The ruling reinforced the necessity of local governance in the distribution of food grains and essential commodities, thereby maintaining the integrity of the PDS framework.