NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday imposed additional cost of Rs 5 lakh each on the state governments of Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha and Manipur for not filing replies to a petition seeking the community kitchens pan- India.
This is in addition to earlier fine of Rs 5 lakh as the Court dismissed applications filed by some to waive off the cost imposed earlier. The Bench asked all five states to deposit the amount before close of the Court on Monday itself and fixed the tentative disposal of the matter on April 8.
Last week, the Bench comprising Justices NV Ramanna, Ajay Rastogi & V. Ramsubramian had imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on several states for non-compliance of an earlier order dated 2nd September 2019, thereby directing the states to file their replies. It noted that only seven states filed affidavits in response, including Karnataka, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Advocate General appearing for the Centre took note of the stand taken by various State Governments and sought liberty to file Counter Affidavit.
Advocate Ashima Mandla appearing on behalf of the Petitioner was directed to prepare a collated chart of all counter-affidavits that come on the record before the Next Date of hearing.
The petition, filed by social activists Arun Dhawan, Inshann Dhawavan & Kunjana Singh earmarks the need to validate the “Right to Food” in terms of “Right to Life” as envisaged in the Constitution of India by setting up of state-funded kitchens that may also function in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP’s).
While insinuating and asserting that this shall help eradicate hunger, the petitioners had taken cue from pre-existing and successful kitchen services run by certain states such as Amma Unavagam in Tamil Nadu, Annapurna Rasoi in Rajasthan, Indira Canteens in Karnataka, Aam Aadmi Canteen in Delhi, Anna Canteen in Andhra Pradesh, Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Yojana in Jharkhand and Ahaar Centre in Odisha.
“These are akin to “soup kitchens” of the US and Europe to feed the poor by serving a limited menu of nutritious cooked food at below the market price.”
The petition has relied on various census and statistical reports to assert that malnutrition and hunger were soaring at an alarming rate in the country. Referring to the UN World Food Programme, UN WHO: Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition, 2006, UN Food and Agriculture Organization: SOFI 2006 Report, the Petitioners have asserted that 7000 persons (including children) die of hunger every day and over 25 Lakh persons (including children) die of hunger, annually.
