JUDGEMENT
Arijit Pasayat, J. -
(1.)These three writ petitions, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, 1950 (in short the Constitution), question legality of certain terms in inviting offers for implementation of the scheme called the "Detailed Scheme for Capacity Building of Self Help Groups to Prepare and Supply Supplementary Nutrition under the Integrated Child Development Service (in short the ICDS) Programme."
(2.)By order dated 7.10.2004 in Writ Petition (C) No. 196 of 2001 (Peoples Union for Liberties vs. Union of India and Others) this Court observed as under :-
"We have gone through the fifth (August, 2004) report of the Commissioners x x x. Further, the problem of using contractors for procurement has also been mentioned in the report suggesting that it should be done by agencies and officers at the government level."
The following directions were issued:
"The contractors shall not be used for supply of nutrition in Anganwadis and preferably ICDS funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, self-help groups and Mahila Mandals for buying of grains and preparation of meals."
(3.)ICDS is perhaps the largest of all the food and supplementation programmes in the world which was initiated in the year 1975 with various objectives as per the document prepared by the Planning Commission. It was also noted by this Court that there was a problem in using contractors for procurement and in the report of the Commissioners it was suggested that it should be done by agencies and officers at the Government level. In that context, it was noted by this Court as follows:
"The Report also mentions that some of AWCS are operating from private houses including those of grain dealers which it is suggested is not a healthy way of working as it is likely to increase the chances of pilferage of the grain etc. We are happy to note that as stated in the affidavit of State of Uttar Pradesh, it has made efforts to shift AWCS to primary schools. It is a good example for other States to follow. The Report also mentions about the attempt to centralize the procurements in some of the States which has many fallouts. It has been explained in one of the affidavit that the procurements is at district level and not at the State level. Further, the problem of using contractors for procurement has also been mentioned in the Report suggesting that it should be done by agencies and officers at the Government level. These are only by way of illustrations as to facts and figures given in Section 1 of the Report relating to Integrated Child Development Services."
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