(Madan B. Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Hemant Gupta, JJ.)
Antarrashtriya Manav Adhikaar Nigraani Parishad _________ Petitioner
v.
Union of India & Ors. ____________________________ Respondent(s)
Writ Petition(s) (Civil) No(s). 618/2013, decided on December 4, 2018
With
W.P.(C) No. 676/2013 (PIL-W)
The Order of the court was delivered by
Order
1. The Mid Day Meal Scheme, which is of considerable benefit to the children in the country, is not being taken seriously by several States. Data has not been supplied and there are allegations made by the petitioner about food-grains disappearing and not reaching the schools and thereby denying the benefit of Mid Day Meal Scheme to children. We have been trying to get the States to render assistance and to upload all the data so that necessary corrective steps can be taken from time to time. In spite of several of our orders, there has been little or no co-operation from some of the States.
2. It has been pointed to us that on 26.10.2018 it was stated by learned counsel for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Odisha that they will comply with the requirements of the Mid Day Meal Scheme and provide necessary links to the satisfaction of learned counsel for the petitioner. More than a month has gone by and there has been absolutely no progress made by these States. Since the States have not supplied the necessary links or the details which are required for effective implementation of the Scheme, we have been left with no option but to impose costs for this totally unnecessary adjournment and for effectively denying benefits to the children of their States to which they are entitled.
3. Accordingly, we impose costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) on the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Odisha and direct that this amount be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within a period of four weeks for juvenile justice issues.
4. As far as the State of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we are reminded by learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State of Jammu & Kashmir that on the last date of hearing (26.10.2018), it was shown to us on the mobile phone of learned counsel for the State of Jammu & Kashmir that there is a link that has been made available.
5. Today once again it is stated by learned counsel for the State of Jammu & Kashmir that link is there but it is not working. We do not see the value of a link that does not work.
6. Under these circumstances, we have no option but to impose costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One lac only) on the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The amount be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within a period of four weeks from today for juvenile justice issues.
7. In so far as the NCT of Delhi is concerned, on the last date of hearing no one was present on behalf of the NCT of Delhi. Today learned counsel has put an appearance on behalf of NCT of Delhi but no information is available.
8. We, therefore, impose costs of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees Two lacs only) to be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within four weeks from today for juvenile Justice issues.
9. Learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned ASG request for some time with regard to formation/expansion of the Committee and for agreed directions thereafter.
10. List the matter after four weeks.
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