[Lakshadweep] Kerala High Court declines to issue orders directing Administration to provide food kits; satisfied with measures in place

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday declined to issue specific directions to the Lakshadweep administration to provide additional food and other provisions to the islanders during the COVID-19 lockdown period (Nasih KK Vs. Union of India)..A Division Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Shaji P Chaly expressed satisfaction at the response filed by the administration elaborating on the measures it has taken to ensure food security for the residents..The Bench was hearing a petition filed by a native of Amini Island seeking mandates to be issued to the Lakshadweep administration to provide necessary food kits, including rice and other necessary provisions, to the needy residents of Lakshadweep Islands, till COVID-19 lock down restrictions are completely lifted. .Advocate Mohammed Shah, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that residents of the islands had already submitted various representations before the authorities pointing out the lack of sufficient ration supply during the lockdown. Specifically, he mentioned that the Panchayat had also filed a complaint before the District Collector in this matter..Shah contended 80 percent of the residents are daily wage earners and a lot of them had lost their jobs and have no means of earning a living during the lockdown. Therefore, he argued that it is imperative that the administration provides added assistance in supply of food kits..Senior Central Government Counsel, S Manu, appearing for the administration made available for the perusal of the Court, charts showing island-wise distribution of rice in May, 2021 and month wise beneficiaries for providing Food Security Allowance..He disagreed with the submission of the petitioner and stated that 10 percent of the residents are government servants and therefore nearly 40 percent of the population enjoys the household benefits of government jobs. He added that the 15 percent population that comprises of school going children are being given food kits from their schools even during lockdown.Further, he pointed out that over 60 percent of the population is covered by Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and around 30 percent also avail the benefits of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana which provides highly subsidised food to the poorest households.He submitted that there is sufficient stock of rice on the Islands that would last for supply up to October, 2021 and that the Union Government has allocated Rs. 1349.71 crores for the Union Territory in 2020-21. Apart from that, education and health are provided for free on the islands and electricity is subsidised, he addedHe claimed that under these circumstances the allegation of the petitioner that people live in abject poverty on the Islands is an attempt to mislead the Court. .The Court, satisfied by the submissions regarding the measures taken by the administration, dismissed the petition.