Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the state government over the repeated incidents of food poisoning at government schools and hostels, allegedly caused by midday meals.
Dealing with a public interest litigation filed by Keethineedi Akhil Sri Guru Tej, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao asked “Are the officials sleeping? Is the state machinery working or not.”
The court slammed the state administration for its apathy in tackling the food poisoning issue and observed that it appears there is no “human sympathy” left in those responsible for this, even though children of the underprivileged families are dying by consuming adulterated food.
“We should feel ashamed of such incidents. It is nothing but callousness, utter carelessness and non-seriousness about the lives of the children of the poor families,“ the Bench said, expressing its anguish.
Chikkudu Prabhakar, the counsel for the petitioner, brought to the notice of the court about the recent incidents of food poisoning in the midday meals, where several students got hospitalised. He submitted that three such incidents occurred in a week’s time at ZPHS, Maganoor.
When the court sought to know the government's view on the incidents of food poisoning, the assistant counsel for the government sought one week's time, inviting severe criticism from the court.
The Chief Justice chided the government counsel for replying casually and seeking one week to respond on such a serious issue. “Instead of calling the district education officer or supervisor of the midday meal programme at the school to inquire about the situation, you simply sought one week’s time. It is not fair,” the Chief Justice vented out displeasure.
The court asked if the government officials are not human beings or if they want more food poisoning incidents in the coming days or will they respond after a child’s death. Is the government waiting for the High Court's orders to react?
The Chief Justice directed the presence of Additional Advocate General Mohammed Imran Khan to represent the case on behalf of the government. Imran Khan submitted that 300 students ate the midday meal on Tuesday in Maganoor school, but only 27 students fell ill and it came to know that the students have eaten locally-made chips, which were sold in the nearby shops.
Further, he submitted that the government has already suspended the headmaster of the school and mid-day meal provider.
During the hearings, the court said that it knew its limitations on making any such comments on officials or government or issuing specific directions. But such incidents show the poor attitude of treating the children, who are the future of our country.
The court directed the Additional Advocate General to submit the details of food contamination incidents in the schools by December 2.
