Chhattisgarh High Court: In a suo motu writ petition registered regarding malnutrition of children in Anganwadi centres, the Division Bench of Ramesh Sinha, CJ., and Bibhu Datta Guru, J., took note of a recent instance of government school children being fed food that had been licked by stray dogs. The Court rebuked the authorities concerned and directed the Secretary, School Education Department, Chhattisgarh Government (‘the Secretary’) to file an affidavit answering several issues raised by the Court.
Background
On 28-08-2023, the present case was registered after suo moto cognizance was taken of a news item regarding malnutrition of children in Anganwadi centres.
During the pendency of this case, a news report was published on 03-08-2025 in two newspapers regarding students of the Government Middle School in Lachhanpur, Palari, Balodabazar, being fed unhygienic food.
As per the news reports, when the students saw the stray dogs licking the food, they informed the school administration. The school administration claimed that they had restrained from serving the said food, but the self-help group concerned, i.e., the ‘Jai Lakshmi Swa Sahayta Samuh’ (‘SHG’), still distributed it. When the students informed their parents, a meeting of the School Committee was held, and under the pressure of the parents, the students were administered two doses of anti-rabies each. The angry parents demanded an enquiry and stern action against the delinquents. The Collector, Balodabazar, temporarily removed the SHG that had served the unhygienic food.
Furthermore, the District Education Officer, Balodabazar, issued notices to the Head Master and Cluster Coordinator, and upon receipt of their reply, further action would be taken. The incident was also reported to the Chief Minister to get the matter investigated. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Palari, formed a committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, who would investigate the matter.
Analysis
The Court noted that out of the 84 students who had eaten the said food, either 78 or 83 students were administered the first doses of anti-rabies. Both the news articles stated different numbers of children who had been administered the doses.
The Court remarked that it was highly surprising that the organisation that was responsible for serving food to the students was performing their duties casually without keeping in mind the safety and hygiene. The Court further stated that the photograph published along with the news showed two utensils on a clay stove lying in an open area, which could be eaten/soiled by any stray animals, like dogs, pigs, rodents, etc.
The Court added that as soon as it came to the knowledge of the teachers that the food had been licked by the dog, it should have been disposed of, and no students should have been allowed to eat the same. The teachers who were posted in the school also appeared to be least concerned about the safety of the children, which was gross negligence.
“There appears to be serious dereliction on the part of the organization and the teachers, as the lives of the students have been put in danger because once a person is infected with rabies, there is no cure available.”
The Court added that providing food to the school students was not an empty formality, and the same had to be done with dignity. A person, especially an innocent child, could not be served any food that had been licked/soiled by a dog.
“When the State Government is spending so much of its funds for the upliftment of the schools and its paraphernalia, then such lapses on the part of the authorities responsible for its functioning are a matter of serious concern.”
Accordingly, the Court directed the Secretary to file an affidavit informing this Court as to
- Whether every student who had consumed the soiled food has been administered doses of anti-rabies vaccine.
- What action has been taken against the organization as well as the Teachers or Head Master of the school concerned?
- Whether any compensation has been given to the students on account of such negligence, which has put their lives in danger.
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What precautionary measures would the Department take to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future?
The matter was listed for 19-08-2025.
[In the Matter of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. Chief Secretary, WPPIL No. 75 of 2023, decided on 04-08-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the respondent: Additional Advocate General Y.S. Thakur and Advocate Ashish Tiwari
