Kolkata, 08 July (H.S.) : The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit clarifying its stand on the proposed handover of the PM-Poshan mid-day meal programme in government and government-aided schools in Kolkata to ISKCON. The matter will be heard again after four weeks.

The direction was passed by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the proposed move.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Kalyan Banerjee argued that entrusting the preparation and distribution of cooked meals to ISKCON could deprive students of eggs currently served under the scheme. He also contended that the move would adversely affect the livelihoods of thousands of women associated with self-help groups (SHGs), who are presently engaged in cooking and serving mid-day meals in schools across the state.

The petition submitted that the PM-Poshan scheme was designed not only to provide nutritious meals to students and reduce school dropout rates but also to generate employment for women through SHGs. Handing over the responsibility to an outside organisation, it argued, would undermine both objectives.

During the hearing, Banerjee informed the court that the Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly that ISKCON would provide mid-day meals in around 1,800 government-run and government-aided schools in Kolkata under the PM-Poshan scheme. However, in response to the court's query, he acknowledged that no official notification had yet been issued by the state government.

Representing the state, Advocate General Surojit Nath Mitra submitted that no final decision or government order had been issued regarding the proposal. He argued that the PIL was based on assumptions rather than any formal government action.

Mitra further stated that the 2010 Central guidelines governing the PM-Poshan scheme permit the use of centralised kitchens in urban areas where schools lack adequate cooking facilities, and that such arrangements can be implemented through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The division bench observed that the 2010 Central notification does not bar the participation of non-governmental organisations or other suitable agencies in implementing the scheme. At the same time, the court sought to know whether any concrete administrative steps had been taken following the Chief Minister's announcement.

After hearing both sides, the bench directed the West Bengal government to place its official position on record through an affidavit and adjourned the matter for four weeks.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh