Kerala High Court: The Division Bench of S. Manikumar, CJ., and Shaji P. Chaly, J., stayed the orders of Lakshadweep Administration to shut down dairy farms and ban chicken and meat in the midday meal menu. The Bench stated,
“There cannot be a dispute that the National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools, Annual Work Plan and Budget 2020-21 has to be implemented by Union Territory of Lakshadweep and viewed in that angle, prima facie, we are of the view that switching over to a different menu, with the exclusion of chicken and meat, would run contrary to the National Plan, especially, when it is constituted with the avowed object of ensuring the physical and mental health of the children.”
Shut Down of Dairy Farms in the UT
The instant PIL had been filed by Adv. Ajmal Ahmed R., an Executive Member of Lakshadweep Bar Association seeking to quash two controversial orders issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Lakshadweep Administration. According to the petitioner, without assigning reasons the Administrator of Lakshadweep had directed to close down all the diary farms run by the Department of Animal Husbandry (the Department) immediately. Accordingly, Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of all Units were directed to dispose of the available animals by public auction which could not take place for want of bidders.
Exclusion of Chicken and Meat from Mid-day Meal Menu
As per the guidelines, since Mid Day Meal Scheme was introduced, a menu was implemented in all the schools, meat and chicken were served. The petitioner submitted that contrary to the National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools (MDMS) Annual Work Plan and Budget 2020-21, wherein, there is a provision, to provide meat and chicken in the menu, to the children of the schools of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, suddenly a decision had been taken not to provide chicken and meat to the children.
Stand Taken by the UT of Lakshadweep
The UT argued that there were two dairy farms and 69 animals in Lakshadweep out of which, only 47 were milking. The total quantity of milk milched was 140 litres per day, hence, maintenance of two farms, with production of extremely less quantity, was not financially viable. Therefore, a policy decision was taken to prevent revenue loss and, such a decision cannot be said to be arbitrary. It was further submitted that due to the second phase of COVID-19 Pandemic and due to difficulty in procurement of certain items, a decision was taken to change the menu of food items.
Analysis and Directions by the Court
Pursuing the National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools which indicates that food has to be served to the children, including meat, chicken, fish and egg, apart from other items; the Bench opined that it could not be disputed that the National Programme of Mid Day Meal, Annual Work Plan and Budget 2020-21 had to be implemented by UT of Lakshadweep; hence, the Bench stated that switching over to a different menu, with the exclusion of chicken and meat, would run contrary to the National Programme, especially, when it was constituted with the avowed object of ensuring the physical and mental health of the children.
Rejecting the argument of counsel for the UT that the National Plan was issued for the academic year 2020-2021, and that, therefore, it had no relevance for the academic year 2021-22, the Bench stated,
“We are unable to understand how there could be a change in the menu of food items given to the children, prepared taking into account, the vital aspect of health factor, and how such a distinction can be drawn, merely, by saying that it was prepared, for a different academic year.”
Noticing that even a Physician, who attended the meeting, had opined that non-vegetarian foods (fish, chicken, and egg) are essential for the growth of children and that children need a healthy balanced diet containing foods from each group (veg along with non-veg), so that they get a wide range of nutrients, to help them stay healthy, the Bench expressed wonder on why the opinion of the Physician was not taken note of, and the Committee persuaded to suggest food, with the exclusion of meat and chicken without assigning appropriate reasons to differ with the said Physician. Therefore, finding no reason for the change of food items, with the exclusion of meat and chicken, the Bench passed an interim order directing the respondents to provide food, by including meat and chicken to the children of the schools in Lakshadweep.
Considering the above mentioned, the Bench issued following interim directions:
- Functioning of the dairy farms should be continued until further orders.
- Food, including meat, chicken, fish and egg, and other items, prepared and served to the school going children of Lakshadweep, as done in the past, should be continued until further orders. To make it clear, the earlier system should continue.
[Ajmal Ahmed R v. Union of India, WP(C):12508 of 2021, decided on 22-06-2021]
Kamini Sharma, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.
Appearance before the Court by:
Counsel for the Petitioner: Adv. Peeyus A. Kottam,
Counsel for UT of Lakshadweep: Adv. S. Manu