KERALA HIGH COURT STAYS LAKSHADWEEP ADMINISTRATION'S ORDER OF REMOVING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD FROM MID-DAY SCHOOL

The Kerala HC bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly was hearing a petition by a lawyer from Lakshadweep, challenging the removal of non-vegetarian from the food menu (mid-day meal) of school children and few other things. The bench said that it did not understand why such a decision was taken by the Lakshadweep administration.

Advocate Peeyus A. Kottam had appeared for the petitioner - Adv. Ajmal Ahmed. R sought to quash the order by the administrator Praful Khoda Patel stating that the order is arbitrary and contrary to the National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools and Annual Budget for 2020-21, wherein there is a provision to serve non-vegetarian food to the children. The petitioner also urged the bench to refrain Praful Khoda from implementing any reforms as it has been affecting a lot of people since his appointment. He also said that such reforms have infringed upon the ethenic culture and habits of the Lakshadweep people.

The Bench said that there is no prima facie reason for excluding meat and chicken from the menu, and the Bench also failed to understand why such sudden change could be brought. Therefore, considering the vital aspect of health, the bench passed an interim order directing the respondent to provide food, as done before to the children.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal