Decide on reintroducing midday meals for students of classes VI to X: HC

‘Food security allowance cannot be provided when schools are kept open’

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the State government to take a decision by April 8 on whether it would reintroduce cooked midday meals to eligible students of classes VI to X from April 15. A Division Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice J.M. Khazi issued the direction while observing that prima facie it was of the view that providing food security allowance cannot be continued when schools are kept open. The Bench issued the directions after it was pointed out on behalf of the government that for students of classes VI to X the government had decided to continue to provide food security allowance but did not make any statement on when hot cooked midday meals would be reintroduced.