"We Have doubt": Supreme Court slams Centre On Community Kitchens
NDTV
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said: "Every welfare state's first responsibility is to provide food to people dying due to hunger" and expressed doubt about the Centre's intention to implement the scheme.
The Supreme Court lashed out at the Centre today over the delay in drawing up a scheme in response to a plea seeking setting up of community kitchens across India to combat hunger. Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said: "Every welfare state's first responsibility is to provide food to people dying due to hunger" and expressed doubt about the Centre's intention to implement the scheme.
On October 27, the court asked the Centre to come out with policy decisions on the scheme.
During today's hearing, the Bench expressed displeasure over Centre's affidavit being filed by an Under Secretary instead of an official with the rank of Secretary from the Ministry of Food and Consumer affairs. The court was also unhappy that the affidavit did not mention that the Centre was ready to implement the scheme.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said: "We have doubt that you have any intention to implement the scheme. Your affidavit doesn't indicate anywhere that you're considering forming a scheme. That isn't there. So far, you are only extracting information from states. You had to give suggestions on implementation of scheme, not just collect information like the Police. This is the last warning I'm going to give to the Government of India. Your Under Secretary filed the affidavit! Your responsible officer can't file this affidavit? How many times we've said the responsible officer is supposed to file the affidavit."
