4 THE KOLKATA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, AUGUST 1, 2024 [PART I CHAPTER II Ration Card 3. Eligibility for new ration card.– Any citizen of India, who normally resides within the State of West Bengal and is having no ration card anywhere in the country and is eligible for having ration card as per the criteria prescribed by the State Government from time to time may apply for and possess a ration card. 4. Issuance of Ration Card.– (1) The eligible intending applicant shall apply to the Ration Card Issuing Authority in whose jurisdiction his residence falls, in such Form and in such manner as may be specified by the State Government for inclusion of a name. (2) The application can be made through either online or offline mode. (3) The Ration Card Issuing Authority shall cause an enquiry into the eligibility of the applicant and also ascertain to the possible extent that the applicant falls under inclusion criteria and does not fall under any of exclusion criteria. In case of application for inclusion of a new family the Ration Card Issuing Authority shall cause an enquiry by visiting the household and neighbourhood. (4) The Ration Card Issuing Authority after having satisfied himself of the eligibility of the applicant shall approve the application for issuance of a new Ration Card. If the Authority is not satisfied as to the eligibility of the applicant to get a new Ration Card or to the eligibility of the applicant to the category applied for, may reject the application after recording the reason of rejection in the online system. (5) Every application so received shall be disposed of within such period as may be specified by State Government from time to time. (6) An applicant having denied a ration card shall be at liberty to appeal against such denial to the District Controller, Food and Supplies and the concerned District Controller, Food and Supplies, after examination and also after giving a personal hearing to the applicant shall dispose of the said appeal within fifteen days from the date of filing of such appeal. 5. Activation, Deactivation and Re-activation of Ration Card.– (1) The State Government may specify procedure for linking of Aadhaar number with the ration card and activation of ration card, as the case may be, with detailed guidelines from time to time. (2) Any new ration card issued in terms of this order or any ration card already issued is to be linked with Aadhaar for activation of the Ration Cards and getting subsidized public distribution commodities. However, activation of NFSA ration card depends on availability of category wise quota stipulated in the National Food Security Act or as fixed by the Central Government. (3) For achieving the purpose of sub-clause (18) & (19) of clause 4 of the TPDS Control Order, the State Government shall deactivate or delete certain ration card from time to time. (4) The Ration Cards may be deactivated, if it is detected that – (i) the ration card has been linked with the Aadhaar number, which is already linked with another ration card within the state or outside the State; (ii) multiple ration cards have been obtained by the same person in his own name; (iii) the ration card holder shifted his residence permanently without giving any information to the concerned ration card issuing authority; (iv) ration card holder has not lifted the ration articles for consecutive two months, (5) The Ration Cards may be deleted, if it is detected that – (i) the ration card holder has died; (ii) there has been change in eligibility criterion of different categories of ration cards; (iii) the ration card having been obtained in suspected or fraudulent manner, or by furnishing false documents or certificate or by impersonation or by suppression of facts; (iv) the ration card holder was not eligible to receive a ration card but has been issued erroneously or otherwise;