Supreme Court lambasts Centre, state for malnutrition

The court came down heavily on the Centre and state governments over malnutrition related deaths

The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Centre and state governments for their wilful disregard of the directions given by the court relating to the implementation of drought relief measures.

A Division Bench of Justices Madan Lokur and N.V. Ramana repeatedly expressed their displeasure at the gross callousness of the state and central governments.

Justice Lokur observed that the court would not allow a repetition of the mistakes made in the declaration of drought last year. He mentioned news reports of about 600 malnutrition related deaths in Maharashtra. There are similar reports from other states. “Children are dying of malnutrition. Does anyone care ” asked Justice Lokur.

When the Maharashtra counsel told the bench that he has no instructions on this aspect, the bench observed, “You don’t bother when children die. Your state is not taking any interest and you (advocate) are also not taking any instructions from the government. Do you think we are wasting our time and enjoying it. You should have come out with instructions.”

Justice Lokur also observed, “The law passed by Parliament is being violated with impunity,” and asked additional solicitor general P.S. Narasimha if there was no Constitutional remedy in such a situation.

Justice Ramana was dismayed at the “non-serious attitude” of the governments in this matter and said, “We pass orders. They (state governments) don’t obey the same and you (central government) throw up your hands.” He said the Court may be left with no option but to appoint court commissioners as prayed by the petitioner, Swaraj Abhiyan.

The apex court asked Swaraj Abhiyan to file a contempt petition against those who have disobeyed the court’s orders. During the hearing of the petition, the central and 12 state governments were repeatedly exposed for multiple instances of non-observance of the court’s orders.

Prashant Bhushan, the president of Swaraj Abhiyan and also the counsel appearing for Swaraj Abhiyan, presented the court with evidence that its landmark judgment ordering universalisation of the public distribution scheme in drought-affected areas was not implemented even by a single state. The same was the fate of its order of supplementing the mid-day meal scheme with additional milk or eggs.