The Supreme Court in the case Anun Dhawan vs Union of India and Ors observed and has adjourned the PIL seeking establishment of community kitchens for two weeks after asking the Centre to look into the policies which is being implemented by the States and to come up with a policy.
The bench comprising of Justice A. S. Bopanna and Justice P. S. Narasimha observed after hearing the counsel appearing for the Petitioner Anun Dhawan. Thus, the Counsel apprised the court that the Union was earlier directed to file a report. It has also been submitted by the Counsel before the court that if the Centre comes out with a policy, 22 states have said, we will implement it.
It was observed by the court that a united effort is being required and everyone has to come up with a policy together. Further, the bench stated that, these matters are not the matters where the direction can be given, it is the part of everyone to come together and figure it out. The bench also asked the Union to come up with a policy and also take into consideration the states which are implementing the policies and adjourned the matter for two weeks.
In the present case, the petitioners taking cue from pre-existing and successful run community kitchen services provided by certain state governments such as Amma Unavagam in Tamil Nadu, Aam Aadmi Canteen in Delhi, Annapurna Rasoi in Rajasthan, Indira Canteens in Karnataka, Anna Canteen in Andhra Pradesh, Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Yojana in Jharkhand and Ahaar Centre in Odisha, has prayed to the court for directing all the Union Territories and the States to formulate schemes to implement the concept of community kitchens to combat hunger, malnutrition & starvation and deaths resulting thereof.
It has also been prayed by the petitioners to direct the Central Government to create a national food grid for those persons beyond the scope of the Public Distribution Scheme. Therefore, they have also prayed to direct National Legal Services Authority to formulate a scheme in order to further the provisions of Article 51A of the Constitution.
The Counsels, Adv. Ashima Mandla, Adv. Mr. Mandakini Singh, Adv. Mr. Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, AOR appeared for petitioners.