The Supreme Court has ordered the government to develop a model system for community kitchens.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to develop a model for implementing the Community Kitchen plan across the country and to provide additional food grains to states to run it, stating that "hunger must be addressed now."

During the hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana took a strong note of Attorney General K K Venugopal's assertions that no state has reported starving deaths, asking, "Are you making a declaration that there are no famine deaths in the country now?" The law officer informed the bench, which included justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli, that the states had not provided such material and that the fact of malnutrition could not be ignored. The bench added that in addition to framing the scheme, the Centre will file an affidavit on distributing additional food grains to states that have been given the freedom to file affidavits on "malnutrition, starving fatalities."

While deferring the case's hearing for three weeks, it agreed with the Centre's contention that state governments would be responsible for the practical aspects of the community kitchen scheme's implementation. 

"We explained to the Attorney General about the court's intention, particularly about the preparation of the model scheme and the possibility of exploring the resources, by placing on the additional affidavit dated... we explained to the Attorney General about the court's intention, particularly about the preparation of the model scheme and the possibility of exploring the resources."

"In terms of logistics, the AG correctly pointed out that it is the responsibility of the state governments... As a result, we adjourn the case for three weeks," the bench stated in its order.

You aren't paying attention to the situation. That is why we imposed the fee; we are waiving it, but you must adhere to the schedule provided," it stated, waiving the charge imposed on states for failing to file their reply in the case. 

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking instructions to the Centre, states, and Union Territories (UTs) to develop a community kitchen programme to tackle hunger and malnutrition. 

The bench was first irritated by the Centre's comments in its affidavit that the courts should not enter the policy realm.

We are not on the bigger issues of starvation and malnutrition…hunger has to be taken care of to be satisfied and the poor people who are on the street and who are suffering because of that. States are not denying that there are no such issues. Everybody is admitting that there is an issue…You (Centre) ask your officers to apply their mind and formulate a model scheme,” the bench said.

Majority of states are willing to run a scheme provided the Centre provides some guidelines and funds, it said.