Community Kitchens : Supreme Court Asks Centre To Come Up With A Policy After Looking Into States' Policies

The Supreme Court today adjourned the PIL seeking establishment of community kitchens for two weeks after asking the Centre to look into the policies being implemented by the States and come up with a policy.

The bench of Justices A. S. Bopanna and P. S. Narasimha heard the counsel appearing for the Petitioner Anun Dhawan. The Counsel apprised the court that the Union was earlier directed to file a report. The Counsel also submitted before the court that, "22 states have said that if the Centre comes out with a policy we will implement it".

The Court observed that a united effort is required and everyone has to come up with a policy together. "These are not matters where directions can be given. Everyone has to come together and figure it out," the bench further stated. The bench asked Union to come up with a policy and also take into consideration the states which are implementing the policies and adjourned the matter for two weeks.

The Petitioners taking cue from pre-existing and successful run community kitchen services provided by certain state governments such as Amma Unavagam in Tamil Nadu, Annapurna Rasoi in Rajasthan, Indira Canteens in Karnataka, Aam Aadmi Canteen in Delhi, Anna Canteen in Andhra Pradesh, Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Yojana in Jharkhand and Ahaar Centre in Odisha, has prayed to the court to direct all States and Union Territories to formulate schemes to implement the concept of community kitchens to combat hunger, malnutrition & starvation and deaths resulting thereof.

The petitioners have also prayed to direct the Central Government to create a national food grid for those persons beyond the scope of the Public Distribution Scheme. They have also prayed to direct National Legal Services Authority to formulate a scheme in order to further the provisions of Article 51A of the Constitution.

Adv. Ashima Mandla, Adv. Mr. Mandakini Singh, Adv. Mr. Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, AOR appeared for petitioners

Case Title: Anun Dhawan vs Union of India and Ors. W. P. (C) No. 1103/2019

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