Supreme annoyed by Centre's response to start community kitchens for the poor

(PTI) New delhi date. 13

The Supreme Court has strongly condemned the central government's response to formulating and implementing a community kitchen policy across the country. The Center has been given three weeks to meet the states on the issue.

The apex court, while hearing the case, said that the first responsibility of the government was to provide food to the starving people. A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Raman, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli heard the public interest litigation seeking directions to the Center to formulate a policy for starting community kitchens.

Expressing displeasure over the affidavit filed by the government, the bench said that from this affidavit, it does not appear that the government is formulating any policy to start a community kitchen. We want a uniform model from the center.

"We are issuing a final warning to the Government of India," the bench warned the central government. This affidavit has been filed by the Under Secretary. Why didn't the secretary level official file an affidavit.

Earlier, Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Diwan and then Attorney General KK Venugopal assured the bench that the Center would convene a meeting on the issue and give the government four weeks to take a final decision on the issue.

The apex court had on February 16 last year slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on six states for complying with the Centre's directive to file affidavits in respect of public interest litigation seeking opening of community kitchens for the poor.