Mid-day meal scheme: SC directs Delhi govt to file plea

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court has directed the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi to move an appropriate application for seeking vacation of interim stay restraining it from appointing new contractors for supplying mid day meal to the students of MCD-run primary schools.

A vacation bench comprising Mr Justices B P Singh and R V Raveendran on Thursday issued the directions while adjourning the hearing of the case till June 5.

Government of Delhi had mentioned the matter before the court last week and the matter was listed for hearing on May 25 as the state pleaded that the entire mid day meal scheme was in doldrums because the hands of the government were tied by the interim stay granted by this court.

Three contractors namely M/s Ekta SHakti Foundation, Surya Charitab and Welfare Society and Jay Gee Humanitarian Society had been granted interim stay by the apex court during the hearing of their petitions challenging Delhi high court order dismissing their writ petitions.

The court told the government of Delhi that it must file an appropriate application giving full facts and this court can not pass any order without knowing the facts of the case.The government is to file application by May 30.

The state of Delhi is seeking permission of the court to appoint new contractors for supplying food under the mid day meal scheme meant for children belonging to the weaker sections of society studying in MCD run schools.The counsel for the state had pleaded that the government was not able to continue the scheme as it can not give contract to other contractors and thousands of students were suffering.

UNI AKS/SC RP ND1456