Chapter XIII MISCELLANEOUS

(1) The provisions of this Act shall not preclude the Central Government or the State Government from continuing or formulating other food based welfare schemes. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government may, continue with or formulate food or nutrition based plans or schemes providing for benefits higher than the benefits provided under this Act, from its own resources.

Any public servant or authority found guilty, by the State Commission at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal, of failing to provide the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer, without reasonable cause, or wilfully ignoring such recommendation, shall be liable to penalty not exceeding Rs. 5,000: Provided that the public servant or the public authority, as the case may be, shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed.

(1) For the purpose of adjudging penalty under section 33, the State Commission shall authorise any of its member to be an adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner after giving any person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing any penalty. (2) While holding an inquiry the adjudicating officer shall have power to summon and enforce the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce any document which in the opinion of the adjudicating officer, may be useful for or relevant to the subject matter of the inquiry and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person has failed to provide the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer, without reasonable cause, or wilfully ignored such recommendation, he may impose such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of section 33.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification, direct that the powers exercisable by it (except the power to make rules), in such circumstances and subject to such conditions and limitations, be exercisable also by the State Government or an officer subordinate to the Central Government or the State Government as it may specify in the notification. (2) The State Government may, by notification, direct that the powers exercisable by it (except the power to make rules), in such circumstances and subject to such conditions and limitations, be exercisable also by an officer subordinate to it as it may specify in the notification.

The provisions of this Act or the schemes made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of such law.

(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by notification, amend Schedule I or Schedule II or Schedule III or Schedule IV and thereupon Schedule I or Schedule II or Schedule III or Schedule IV, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly. (2) A copy of every notification issued under sub-section (1), shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after it is issued.

The Central Government may, from time to time, give such directions, as it may consider necessary, to the State Governments for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and the State Governments shall comply with such directions.

(1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the State Governments and by notification, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— (a) scheme including cost sharing for providing maternity benefit to pregnant women and lactating mothers under clause (b) of section 4; (b) schemes covering entitlements under sections 4, 5 and section 6 including cost sharing under section 7; (c) amount, time and manner of payment of food security allowance to entitled individuals under section 8; (d) introducing schemes of cash transfer, food coupons or other schemes to the targeted beneficiaries in order to ensure their foodgrains entitlements in such areas and manner under clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 12; (e) the norms and manner of providing assistance to the State Governments in meeting expenditure under clause (d) of sub-section (4) of section 22; (f) manner in which funds shall be provided by the Central Government to the State Governments in case of short supply of foodgrains, under section 23; (g) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed or in respect of which provision is to be made by the Central Government by rules. (3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

(1) The State Government may, by notification, and subject to the condition of previous publication, and consistent with this Act and the rules made by the Central Government, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— (a) guidelines for identification of priority households under sub-section (1) of section 10; (b) internal grievance redressal mechanism under section 14; (c) qualifications for appointment as District Grievance Redressal Officer and its powers under sub-section (2) of section 15; (d) method and terms and conditions of appointment of the District Grievance Redressal Officer under sub-section (3) of section 15; (e) manner and time limit for hearing complaints by the District Grievance Redressal Officer and the filing of appeals under sub-sections (5) and (7) of section 15; (f) method of appointment and the terms and conditions of appointment of Chairperson, other Members and Member-Secretary of the State Commission, procedure for meetings of the Commission and its powers, under sub-section (5) of section 16; (g) method of appointment of staff of the State Commission, their salaries, allowances and conditions of service under sub-section (8) of section 16;

The schemes, guidelines, orders and food standard, grievance redressal mechanism, vigilance committees, existing on the date of commencement of this Act, shall continue to be in force and operate till such schemes, guidelines, orders and food standard, grievance redressal mechanism, vigilance committees are specified or notified under this Act or the rules made thereunder: Provided that anything done or any action taken under the said schemes, guidelines, orders and food standard, grievance redressal mechanism, or by vigilance committees shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act and shall continue to be in force accordingly unless and until superseded by anything done or by any action taken under this Act.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. (2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.

The services of authorities to be appointed or constituted under sections 15 and 16 may be utilised in the implementation of other schemes or programmes of the Central Government or the State Governments, as may be prescribed by the State Government.

The Central Government, or as the case may be, the State Government, shall be liable for a claim by any person entitled under this Act, except in the case of war, flood, drought, fire, cyclone or earthquake affecting the regular supply of foodgrains or meals to such person under this Act: Provided that the Central Government may, in consultation with the Planning Commission, declare whether or not any such situation affecting the regular supply of foodgrains or meals to such person has arisen or exists.