Their advocate Jugalkishore Gilda on Tuesday presented a bottle of a protein syrup PO Vitamin manufactured by Hindustan Laboratories in Palghar and urged the court to test it.
Asking the state to get a chemical analysis done on the vitamin syrup supplied to state Anganwadi’s by the government, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a fresh report of the analysis from the government in four weeks.
The HC was hearing a public interest litigation, relating to malnutrition deaths. Expressing its apprehension, the court also said that if the affidavit filed by the government is found to be false or incorrect, its officer will face contempt proceedings.
In September, a petition filed by two doctors from Amravati, Rajendra Burma and Ravindra Kolhe, had urged the HC to direct the state government to take necessary steps for combating malnutrition deaths.
Their advocate Jugalkishore Gilda on Tuesday presented a bottle of a protein syrup PO Vitamin manufactured by Hindustan Laboratories in Palghar and urged the court to test it.
He said that the protein syrup was procured by the state for children to avoid malnutrition but contained no proteins.
The court has ordered its examination by the state government in its laboratories and an independent examination by the petitioners.
Pursuant to court orders of September 20, the district judge, DN Deshpande had visited the Aanganwadis in Melghat, the hotbed of malnutrition deaths in the state, on October 13 and submitted a confidential report to the court.
HC chief justice Swatanter Kumar said that it was unfortunate that the courts had to appoint a magistrate to confirm what the state government said. “Is this the sense of responsibility your secretaries have” he asked.
The chief justice said the report shows that there are 40 children in the grade-four category of malnutrition.
Also, as per the statements of the state government itself, there was a rise in the number of malnutrition deaths in the state and 490 to 500 malnutrition deaths were reported from Maharashtra between 2000 and 2007.
The affidavit filed by the secretary of the tribal development department Sunil Porwal however said that health centers in the state were functioning properly and medical officers were visiting them regularly.
The court however warned the state government pleader that if the contents of the affidavit are found to be false the secretary will be liable for contempt proceedings.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}