SC slaps Rs 2 lakh fine on Delhi over failure to upload information on scheme online
Delhi paid a heavy price for not implementing the mid-day meal scheme in schools, after it was slapped with a Rs 2 lakh fine for not creating an online link that would ensure uploading of the scheme's implementation and ensure a check on hygiene and quality of food supplied to government-run schools in the capital.
The Supreme Court was hearing a PIL filed by the Antarrashtriya Manav Adhikar Nigrani Parishad NGO, which alleged several lapses in the scheme, resulting in children falling sick after consuming unhygienic mid-day meals. It said food material sought to be delivered under the scheme was getting destroyed or pilfered. To plug these loopholes, the court asked states to set up an online link where data regarding food supplied can be uploaded and its quality monitored.
But non-cooperation by the Delhi government to such a crucial scheme involving children's health left a bench of justices Madan B Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Hemant Gupta fuming. "We have been trying to get states to render assistance and to upload all data, so that necessary corrective steps can be taken. In spite of several orders, there has been little or no cooperation from some states," the bench noted.
It singled out Delhi as the most notorious of the lot and slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh to be paid into the account of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within four weeks. The court's ire against the Delhi government was on two counts: On the earlier date of hearing, nobody was present on behalf of Delhi, and on Tuesday, the counsel who appeared had no instruction to information sought by the bench.
Other states that were found to be lackadaisical in their approach were slapped with fine of Rs 1 lakh each. These included Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir. "The mid-day meal scheme, of considerable benefit to children, is not being taken seriously. Data has not been supplied and there are allegations made by the petitioner about foodgrain disappearing and not reaching the schools," the bench added.
The previous order in this regard was issued by the court on October 26. A month had passed, but the court failed to see any progress being made except assurances.
OTHERS TOO
- Other states that were found to be lackadaisical in their approach were slapped with fine of Rs 1 lakh each
- These included Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir
- It singled out Delhi as the most notorious of the lot and slapped more fine
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