Prices of food items do not change like mutual funds: Karnataka High Court pulls up State for faulty mid-day meal scheme

The Karnataka High Court today directed the State government to formulate an appropriate mid-day meal scheme for eligible students..The Court was earlier informed that between June 1 and October 31 this year, the State had not provided mid-day meals to eligible students at government and aided schools covered under the scheme..It (prices of food items) is not like mutual fund that prices will change everyday...Karnataka High Court.Today, a Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar observed,."Prima facie it appears to us that what is provided in the order will not...amount to compensating those who were deprived of mid-day meals." .Today, the State filed a memo placing on record its order dated December 5, in which it detailed the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme for 2020-21. The scheme provided that one kilo of salt, one litre of oil and toor dal would be provided to eligible children. .During the hearing, the Court raised objections to the said scheme, as the amount of toor dal was not quantified. It further noted,."What is the big idea of giving one kg of salt? Is there no irrationality in this? Will a small child have 1 kg of salt and 1 litre of oil?....It cannot be vague, you have to decide the quantity of food (toor dal).".This apart, the Court did not appear too pleased when the government submitted that the prices of food items included in the scheme saw a fluctuation over the past few months. ."It (prices of food items) is not like mutual fund that prices will change everyday...".As the matter progressed, Advocate Clifton D'Rozario, appearing for the petitioner, argued that children should be compensated, as mid-day meals were not provided to them for many months amid the pandemic. This amounts to violation of life and liberty envisaged under Article 21, the Court was told. .During the previous hearing, the Court had observed that the failure on the part of the State government to implement the mid-day meal scheme was a violation of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution, and was in breach of provisions of the National Food Security Act..The matter will be next heard on December 15.