Kolkata, July 8 -- The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to clarify the status of a proposal to entrust the preparation and supply of cooked meals under the PM POSHAN scheme in Kolkata schools to International Society for Krishna Consciousness, while indicating that no judicial intervention was warranted at this stage in the absence of a formal government decision.
A Division Bench comprising Tapabrata Chakraborty and Partha Sarathi Chatterjee asked the State to place its position on record by filing an affidavit regarding the proposal.
The Bench, however, observed that the challenge appeared premature because no notification or final decision implementing the proposal had yet been issued. It clarified that the petitioner would be free to approach the Court again if the government subsequently notified the proposed arrangement.
The petition, filed by advocate Sirsanya Bandopadhyay, questioned the reported move to engage ISKCON for supplying cooked meals under the PM POSHAN programme in schools within the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It alleged that such a decision, if implemented, would bypass established norms governing public procurement and the execution of a publicly funded welfare scheme.
The plea also claimed that replacing the existing system could jeopardise the livelihood of thousands of self-help groups and community organisations presently associated with meal preparation. It further raised concerns over the secular character of a State-funded programme, as well as issues relating to children's dietary preferences and nutritional requirements.
During the hearing, senior advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, appearing for the petitioner, relied on public statements attributed to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding the proposal. Advocate General Surajit Nath Mitra, representing the State, maintained that only an offer had been received and no decision had been taken, adding that the petition rested solely on a proposal rather than an implemented policy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.