NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Delivering a sharp rap on the Centre's knuckles, the Supreme Court on Monday chided the government for demanding the dismissal of the writ petition filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties, which wanted the Right to Food to be made a fundamental right.
The government in its affidavit had claimed that the writ was 'misconceived, biased and based on wrong facts'.
The court expressed its anguish for the use of such words in the affidavit and said, "It virtually amounted to saying that there are no deaths by hunger in any part of the country."
The court also directed 14 states and two Union territories to carry out the directive of the central government, within two weeks, and find out the number of families living below the poverty line.
Appearing for the government, Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee said the Union government had already issued instructions to all the states to find out within two weeks the number of families living below the poverty line, and distribute free food to them forthwith.
The attorney general also enumerated various schemes, which were being implemented to provide food to the poor at low cost.
Yug Mohit Chaudhary, counsel for PUCL, described the government's stand as misleading.
"Though the government announced the Antodya Ann Yojana to provide food at low cost to the poor, it has done little by way of implementation," Chaudhary told the court.
The 16 states and Union territories, which had failed to act on the Centre's directive, include West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Manipur, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Chandigarh and Lakshadweep.
The Supreme Court will hear the case again on September 17.
On Sunday, Union Food Minister Shanta Kumar had told reporters that the government had issued strict guidelines to all states to provide food to the people living the below poverty line with immediate effect.
Failure to do so would invite action against the officials concerned, he had warned.
He had also directed the food and civil supplies officials of the Union and state governments to provide ration cards to poor people within three months.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
