COVID- Allahabad High Court Requests Supreme Court To Deal With The Issue Of Distribution Of Food Grains To Vulnerable Section Of People

The Allahabad High Court on Monday (May 24) requested the apex court to consider the issue of distribution of food grains to the vulnerable section of people and ensure the accountability of governance.

The Bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi said,

"This Court would humbly extend a request to this Court or the apex court dealing with suo motu petitions to include consideration on the issue of distribution of food grains to the vulnerable section of people and ensure the accountability of governance in relation to quantity and quality related issues that have undoubtedly multiplied manifold constituting a cognizable cause."

Plight of the underprivileged people

The Court, in its Judgment, noted that the Court shall be failing in its duty if, during the ongoing pandemic, the plight of underprivileged people goes unnoticed in the present scenario of mass destruction.

The Court also observed that the issues relating to the distribution of food grains in the present situation of unemployment are larger in size particularly when the Gram Panchayats after the election in U.P. have yet to assume a functional role to cope with the Pandemic.

Significantly, the Court remarked,

"The unmanaged hunger may equally be contributing to unnatural deaths like mismanaged health services. This Court may also not overlook the lack of mechanism whereunder the quality check of the food grains supplied to underprivileged is dutifully ensured and it is quite possible that hunger and malnutrition may be a cause of human loss too."

The Court further acknowledged that the judiciary owes a legal obligation to the underprivileged citizens for which the constitutional courts are duty bound to go into the State's obligation relating to the supply of quality food grains during this crisis failing which the health hazard shall assume unprecedented dimensions and may render the nation helpless.

Lastly, the Court directed that the copy of the order be sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of U.P. as well as to the Ministry of Civil Supplies, Government of India for necessary action.

A copy of the order was also directed to be sent to the Registrar General, Supreme Court of India, New Delhi, and be also placed before the Registrar General of the Court to apprise the concerned Benches of the request extended hereinabove.

Background

Other important orders

The Supreme Court on Monday directed for dry ration to be distributed to migrant workers stranded throughout the country under Atma Nirbhar Scheme or any other scheme found suitable by the States/Centre.