The Supreme Court has expressed its reluctance to review the poverty line fixed at Rs 32 per capita per day in the country, noting the figure may not be “fabulous” but it was not for them to settle economic policies.
“We cannot review or alter it. We cannot settle economic policies for the country. In the light of your concerns, we can say it is not fabulous but it has been fixed by the Planning Commission on certain basis only,” said a Bench led by Justice T S Thakur on Wednesday.
The court was responding to a request by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who appeared for NGO “People’s Union for Civil Liberties” and sought its indulgence to review the “unrealistic and deplorable” Rs 32-figure while dealing with larger issues plaguing the Public Distribution System (PDS).