Not right to make children wait for midday meals: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has said that it's not right to make children wait for midday meals for months and that children should not be made to suffer on this account.

"Midday meals for children (in schools) can't wait for months...," the court remarked while hearing a petition that sought directions to provide midday meals or food security allowance to children in the national capital.

"Plus and minus keep on happening in accounts, but because of this, children should not suffer," a division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said.

The court observations came after Delhi government counsel said that funds needed for providing mid-day meals in government schools are yet to come.

During the course of the hearing, the counsel urged for more time to file an additional affidavit in this regard. The court accepted the request and posted the matter for further hearing on July 21.

Petitioner-NGO Mahila Ekta Manch had prayed for court directions to the Delhi government to provide cooked midday meals or food security allowances to eligible children during the COVID-19 lockdown when schools in the national capital are shut.

The petitioner said the purpose was to boost the immunity of poor children during the pandemic, citing that they were approached by the parents of children who were beneficiaries of the scheme.