Ration Card Rule: Failure to remove a name from a ration card after a family member’s death could result in an FIR. Learn how to update it.

A ration card is an important means of getting government subsidized food grains (wheat, rice, sugar). This card is only for living members. When a family member dies, that person is no longer entitled to government subsidies.

If you continue to take ration in his name, it is a misuse of government funds and can be considered a legal offence.

Apart from this, the ration card is also used as an identity card for many other government schemes.

This document becomes invalid if it is old and not updated. If you ever have to use the ration card for other purposes (such as opening a bank account, getting a passport, etc.), it is necessary to have an updated card. Therefore, the name of the deceased person should be removed in time.

If you continue to take rations in the name of a deceased person, this can lead to serious consequences:

The ration card can be canceled - If the investigation reveals that you are taking ration in the name of the deceased person, then the entire ration card can be canceled, which will cause problems for the entire family to take ration.

Ration can be recovered - The ration money taken from you in the name of the deceased person so far can be charged according to the market price. This amount can be much higher.

Penalty or FIR In some cases, it is considered fraud and can even lead to a fine or an FIR against you. This is a serious crime in the case of theft of government property.

You will not get the benefit of other schemes. If a malfunction is found in the ration card, you may also have trouble taking advantage of other government schemes (such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, etc.).

Therefore, to avoid any kind of legal trouble, the ration card should be updated as soon as possible.

If your state has the facility to update the ration card online, then you can remove the name of the deceased person sitting at home. To do this, you must follow the following steps:

Step 1: Go to the official website of the Food and Civil Supplies Department of your state. This varies from state to state, such as fcs.up.gov.in for Uttar Pradesh or the respective websites of other states.

Step 2: Login using your registered mobile number. If your mobile number is not registered, update it first.

Step 3: Select the option of "Member Deletion" or "Ration Card Update." This option is usually available in the Dashboard or Services section.

Step 4: Enter all the information of the person whose name you want to delete. Also, select the "Death" option in the cause.

Step 5: Upload a scanned copy of the death certificate. This is a mandatory document.

Step 6: Submit the application and keep the application number with you. You can use this number to track the status of your application.

If the online facility is not available in your state or you are having trouble with the online process, you can apply offline. Below are the steps for this process:

Step 1: Go to the food and supply office or ration dealer in your area. If you don't have an office address, you can get information from your local municipal or district office.

Step 2: Get the name deletion form from there and fill it correctly. In the form, you have to give information about the head of the family and the deceased person.

Step 3: Attach the following documents to the form:

Death certificate (original + self-attested copy)

Ration Card (Original + Copy)

Aadhaar card (optional, but required in some states)

Step 4: After submitting all the documents, take a receipt from there. This receipt contains the date of application and the reference number, which will be useful in the future.

Usually this process can take 15-30 days, after which your ration card is updated and you can get a new card.

Whether you apply online or offline, some documents are required. Keeping these documents ready in advance speeds up the process:

Death certificate (the most important document)

Ration Card (Original Card)

Aadhar Card (of the head of the family and the deceased)

Family Register (required in some states)

Bank passbook (if ration card is linked to bank account)

If you are applying online, keep a clean scanned copy of these documents (in PDF or JPEG format) ready. For offline application, carry original documents and their self-attested copy. Make sure that all documents are correct, complete and up-to-date, as an error in any document can cause a delay in your application.

When you remove the name of a dead person from the ration card, it is only the process of removing the name, not of replacing the entire card.

But in many states, the new ration card is issued after the member is removed, as the family structure in the card changes. The new card will have only the names of the surviving members.

It is important to note that reducing the number of family members in the new card can also reduce the amount of ration you get (quota), as the government provides a certain amount of grain for each member of the family.

This is a legal and necessary step, because the deceased person is no longer entitled to the subsidy. After the new card is issued, you must return the old card (if the authorities ask) and use only the new card.

There is usually no charge for name deletion. It is a government service and is free in most states. However, in some states, a nominal fee (such as ₹10- ₹20) may be charged for issuing a new ration card, but it is much lower.

If any official or ration dealer demands exorbitant fees from you, it is unfair. In such a situation, you can file a complaint in the control room of the Food and Civil Supplies Department or call the toll-free number.

You can also report it directly to the District Supply Officer (DSO) or the State Food Commissioner. Any form of bribery or illegal recovery under government schemes is unacceptable

Sometimes ration dealers or food office staff may delay or even refuse deletion of names. In such a situation, there is no need to panic, you have several options:

Contact your senior officer. Contact the food supply inspector or district supply officer (DSO) of your area and state your problem.

File a complaint You can file a complaint online on the department's toll-free number or on the CPGRAMS (Central Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System) portal.

Make use of RTI... If there is no action for a long time after the application, you can get information about the reasons for the delay in the process by applying under the Right to Information (RTI).

Contact your local MLA or Councillor. If the problem is not being resolved at the departmental level, you can contact your local MLA or councillor, who can help in your case.

Remember, it is your right to remove the name of the deceased person and the department is obliged to complete it on time.

Yes, you can update your ration card as many times as you need. If another member in your family dies, a new member (such as birth or marriage) joins, or a member separates, you can update the ration card for all these changes.

However, for every update, you will have to apply again and submit the relevant documents. It is important to ensure that your ration card is always updated, as it is an important basis of your identity and getting the benefits of government schemes. Being outdated or not updated can deprive you of essential features.

The time taken to update the ration card depends on the state and the type of application. Usually:

The online application takes 7 to 15 days, provided all the documents are correct.

Offline (physical) application may take 15 to 30 days as it involves physical verification of documents and signature process of officers.

If there are any errors in the documents or the information is not complete, it may take more time.

Therefore, it is important to keep all the documents correct and complete. You can get information about the status of your application by contacting the concerned department after the application or by tracking your application number on the online portal.

Ration card is an important government document and it is the responsibility of every citizen to keep it updated. If any member of your family has died, then you should get his name removed from the ration card as soon as possible.

Failure to remove your name can lead to cancellation of your ration card, fines and even an FIR. This is not only legal hassle, but it is also not morally right because you are taking government subsidy in the name of a dead person.

You can complete this process online (through the website of the state food department) or offline (through the food office or ration dealer). In both the modes, death certificates, ration cards and other necessary documents have to be submitted. The process is simple and usually does not cost anything.

By updating the ration card in time, you can avoid any kind of legal hassle and take advantage of government schemes without any hindrance. Stay tuned to timesbull.com for more such government rules, document updates and important information.