What were officials doing as food poisoning spree continued: HC

Telangana High Court demands report on food poisoning incidents in Maganoor Zilla Parishad High School, expressing serious concern.

Telangana High Court on Wednesday instructed the State government to furnish a report on the series of food poisoning instances in Maganoor Zilla Parishad High School in Narayanpet district by Monday, expressing serious concern over the response of the official machinery in the matter.

A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, hearing a PIL over quality of food being served under mid-day meal schemes in government schools, declined to grant two weeks of time as sought by the government counsel to file counter affidavit. What were the officials doing when the same school witnessed food poisoning thrice within a single week, the bench asked Additional Advocate General Mohammed Imran Khan appearing for the government.

With the AAG seeking time to secure detailed report on the matter, the bench asked him if the district educational officer concerned did not have phone facility to appraise the higher-ups about the issue. The bench said if the officials respond only if the HC passes orders. The bench remarked that the officials too would be having children and such inaction was not expected from them.

“The official machinery should take step on humanitarian grounds and provide proper food to the students. The Maganoor school was located less than 70 km from the district headquarter. Still, the officials required time to explain the reasons behind the food poisoning,” the bench said. 

The AAG assured the bench that the government was committed to the welfare of students and it would take disciplinary action against officials responsible for the food poisoning incidents. On November 20, nearly 50 students of the school fell sick after eating food served as part of mid-day meal scheme at the school.

The next day, students complained that worms were seen in the food served for lunch. Again on November 26, over 20 students took ill after eating lunch. A few months ago, Help the People Charitable Trust represented by its president K. Akhil Sri Guru Teja filed a PIL raising several issues connected to mid-day meal scheme being implemented in government schools.

The petitioner then contended that mandatory food quality inspections were not being conducted by the authorities to maintain hygiene and better quality. He sought directions to food safety officials and others to conduct regular food quality tests as per the rules.