The Supreme Court on Monday directed continuation of an interim order passed by the Kerala High Court asking the Lakshadweep administration to continue providing meat and chicken to schoolchildren as part of the mid-day meal programme pending disposal of a petition challenging the High Court’s final order ratifying the decision to exclude these items from the menu and close down financially unviable government-run dairy farms on the island. A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and A S Bopanna is hearing the matter.
- Directions for ClosureThe Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Kavaratti issued by the Secretary (Animal Husbandry), Union Territory of Lakshadweep, to close all the dairy farms run by the Department of Animal Husbandry and to dispose of the bulls, calves etc.
- UT Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee and District Task Force on mid-day meal scheme, dated 27.01.2021, whereby the existing menu was modified by deleting meat and chicken, and including fruits and dry fruits.
- High Court: The petitioner had approached the High Court, seeking quashing of the Lakshadweep administration’s May 21, 2021, order. In its June 22, 2021, interim order, the High Court directed that “the functioning of the dairy farms should be continued until further orders” and that “food, including meat, chicken, fish and egg, and other items, prepared and served to the schoolchildren of Lakshadweep, as done in the past, should be continued until further orders”. The PIL challenged the Lakshwadweep administration’s decision to exclude chicken and meat from mid-day meals and to close down the dairy farms in the region.
ABOUT MID DAY MEAL SCHEME
ABOUT MID DAY MEAL SCHEMEMid-day meal (MDM) is a wholesome freshly-cooked lunch served to children in government and government-aided schools in India. On 28 November 2001, the Supreme Court of India passed a mandate stating, “We direct the State Governments/Union Territories to implement the Mid Day Meal Scheme by providing every child in every Government and Government assisted Primary School with a prepared midday meal.” It is the world’s largest school meal programme aimed to attain the goal of universalization of primary education. Mid Day Meal is served on all working days in the school. There is provision to provide mid day meal to children in summer vacations in drought affected areas. Menu is decided commonly for all schools by the Department of School Education only with an option to modifications by the local SMC.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice A S Bopanna
Judge Supreme Court of India
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee
Judge Supreme Court of India
