Removing meat from mid-day meal menu in schools on the Lakshadweep islands as the islanders regularly consume meat from their houses - Lakshadweep Administration

Case: Ajmal Ahmed R v. Union of India

Bench: Justices Indira Banerjee and AS Bopanna

Recently, the Lakshwadeep administration informed the Top Court that they had decided to skip meat from the mid-day meal menu in schools on the Lakshadweep islands and rather include fruits and dry fruits in its place as the islanders regularly consume meat from their houses but not dry fruits.

The top court was hearing an appeal by a resident of Kavaratti island against a September 2021 judgement of the Kerala High Court. Wherein the HC dismissed a plea challenging the Lakshadweep administration's decision. The Apex Court sought a response from the Centre on the appeal.

The plea challenged the administration's decision including the decision to close dairy farms on the Lakshadweep islands.

Praful Khoda Patel, the administrator of the Union Territory, claimed in a counter-affidavit that midday meals in schools are not meant to replace or supplement the food students receive at home. He further said that during monsoons it is difficult to procure meat, whereas the availability of fish, egg, and fruits, dry fruits remains unhindered. The lack of proper storage facilities was claimed to be a reason for such exclusion.

Lakshadweep administration says that the closure of dairy farms was a result of the fact that the farms were only able to serve 300 to 400 people while the population of Lakshadweep Island is 20,000, resulting in a loss of Rs96 lakh for the government.

The petitioner contended that since the 1950s, Lakshadweep has been providing midday meals and cooked meat and other foods to children from pre-primary to elementary levels. The same has been provided to students till the 12th standard in 2009.

According to the appellant, the new menu does not include any meat products, which violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution's guarantee of the right to food. Thus, in view of the same, the SC bench sought the Centre's response to the appeal