The Orissa High Court in the case Mantu Das v.Union of India and others observed and has expressed serious concern over the plight of young children as many of them belongs to scheduled tribes and are suffering from chronic malnutrition and the prolonged hunger.
In the present case, the Public Interest Litigation was moved wherein stating the condition of the children in various areas of Jajpur district is so dire that many of them have been died.
The bench comprising of Chief Justice Murlidhar and Justice G. Satapathy in the case observed and has stated that it being obvious that this requires immediate attention at the hands of the State Government as well as the Union of India.
The court in the case observed and has directed that the Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development, W & CD Department, the State of Odisha as well as the Secretary, the Ministry of W&CD, Government of India for filing their affidavits wherein giving a para-wise reply to the petition by May 15, 2023.
The petitioner in the plea also highlighted that the children in the Danagadi Block, particularly the children are from the villages such as Ghatisahi, Kiajhar, Salinjagha, Nadiabhanga, Dhuligarh, Chania, and Anagundi in Jajpur District and are extremely being susceptible to illnesses and have lost their lives.
The plea filed has also brought the court’s attention that the absence of the Aadhar Card has resulted in the exclusion of these children from the public distribution system and the other welfare schemes.
Further, the court in the case observed that in Ghatisahi village only 16o villagers have Aadhar cards out of 309 villagers and therefore the villagers are unable to get the monthly quotas from the public distribution system.
Further, the court issued the notice to the State and Centre, wherein it has also been asked by the court that the Collector of Jajpur; the CDMO of Jajpur; the Secretary of W&CD of the Government of India, and the Additional Chief Secretary of W&CD of the State of Odisha in order to remain present during the next hearing.
However, the court stated that the Collector, Jajpur along with the CDMO, Jajpur will undertake a visit to the Danagadi Block and in particular, the affected villages which includes village Ghatisahi and a report is to be submitted to this Court on the corrective ameliorative action taken before the next date.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter to be next heard on May 18, 2023.
The counsel, Mr. Afraaz Suhail appeared for the petitioner.
The counsel, Mr. D.R. Bhokta, C.G.C. for Union of India,Mr. Debakanta Mohanty, A.G.A. for the State represented the respondent.
