The Supreme Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Against The Unavailability Of Mid-Day Meals To Children Due To The Coronavirus Outbreak

Supreme Court: Suspicion, However Strong, cannot take the place of Proof

Today the Supreme Court has taken a “suo-moto cognizance” to the issue of how the children were served with their mid-day meals during the coronavirus outbreak and what precautions were being taken by the authorities.

Brief Facts:

Today the Supreme Court by the authority it withholds it has taken its own apprehension to know how the children in the mid-day meals are served with food taking precautions during the coronavirus outbreak in the nation. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Arvind Bobde lead bench[i] has issued notices to all the state’s resident commissioners and the authorities who are responsible to take care of the mid-day scheme programme to know the status on how the scheme is being implemented.

Key Features:

1. Today The Supreme Court has sent notices to all the state’s resident commissioners and other authorities responsible for the mid-day meal scheme, seeking a detailed report on how the children are being fed and what precautions are being taken by the authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

2. As the World Health Organization has passed a statement that the novel coronavirus is a pandemic, and India is now registered with more than 140 cases[ii] nationwide the educational institutions were shut down until further notice to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. During this period the Supreme Court is concerned about the children who were being fed with the mid-day meal schemes and is eager to know about what actions and precautions are being taken.

Conclusion:

Nationwide almost all the schools, educational institutions, coaching centres, and shopping malls or any other public accumulated areas were shut down to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. India is currently with more than 140 cases[iii] tested positive with the virus, as cautioned by the world health organization it claims the corona virus is a pandemic. In this situation of all the schools shut down, the Supreme Court was concerned about the children who come for the mid-day meals and is eager to know how they are being fed in this crisis and a notice was sent to all the states knowing what precautions are being taken to feed the children and at the same time stop the spreading of the virus.

Edited by J. Madonna Jephi

Approved & Published – Sakshi Raje

End Notes:      

[i] Coronavirus Covid 19 Latest News, Covid 19 Death Toll Updates, News, https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak (last visited Mar 18, 2020).

[ii] DH Web Desk, Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths Deccan Herald (2020), https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-812987.html (last visited Mar 18, 2020).

[iii] DH Web Desk, Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths Deccan Herald (2020), https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-812987.html (last visited Mar 18, 2020).