SC vacates stay against supply of food

New Delhi, June 9 : The Supreme Court today vacated the interim stay granted against the appointment of new non-profit making organisations for supplying nutritious food to children and expectant mothers in Aanganwadis in Delhi.

The order came on an application filed by the Delhi Government for vacation of stay so that it may go ahead with the process of appointment of new organnisations for doing the job as the nutritious meal scheme meant for small children in the age group of 0-6 years was in doldrums due to the stay order.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and C K Thakker, however, reserved their final verdict.

Senior counsel Collin Gonsalves, appearing for the Delhi Government, pleaded before the court that the three petitioners were well-equipped catering contractors who were trying to get back-door entry under the garb of non-government organisations (NGOs) and pleaded for the vacation of the interim stay dated May 12.

Mr Gonsalves also contended that the selection process adopted by the government was fully transparent and bona fide. In response to the Delhi Government notice, 117 non-profit making organisations applied for the job. Eight of the 60 shortlisted were selected and one was under observation.

The nutritious meal supplied in Aanganwadis is meant for infants in the age group of 0-6 yrs and poor expectant mothers.

Countering the contention of the petitioners that they were involved in supplying mid-day meals in MCD-run primary schools for last so many years, the Counsel argued that mid-day meal scheme is meant for grown-up children and is altogether different from the nutritious meal scheme for Aanganwadis.

The Delhi Government has laid down the criterion that any organisation bidding for participation in the scheme must have three-year registration.

The counsel for the petitioners, however, pleaded that all the three petitioners were having a long and rich experience in the field and one of them was involved even in the United Nations-sponsored scheme for supplying food in eastern Europe.

This court, on October 7, 2004, had issued some interim directions when some disturbing facts were brought to its notice that the money was being siphoned off by the contractors illegally for personal gains. The court had also expressed shock and anguish over the attitude of the Central Government.

With today's order, decks have been cleared for handing over the job of supplying nutritious meal to the children and expectant mothers in Aanganwadis to the eight selected non-profit making organisations.

UNI