Overview
- The Supreme Court issued the decision on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and set aside orders that had denied Kulsum Nisha a fair price shop licence on the ground that she was a married daughter.
- The court directed authorities to grant the petitioner a valid licence within four weeks and quashed the Allahabad High Court and administrative rejections that relied on a 2019 Uttar Pradesh order.
- Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe held that the scheme’s aim is immediate relief for dependents and that marital status has no logical link to dependency, residence or capacity to run the dealership.
- The ruling overruled contrary Allahabad High Court precedents and aligned national law with earlier Bombay and Karnataka High Court decisions, creating a binding test for future claims.
- Practically, the judgment requires officials and courts to assess married daughters on facts such as financial need, continued residence with the family, and ability to discharge shop duties, which could broaden access to welfare slots nationwide.