SLIC files PIL over 40,000 quintal food grain rotting in open in Allahabad (Doaba Utthan Evam Vikas Samiti Vs. Union of India & others)

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Public Interest Litigation No. 39849 of 2011 Doaba Utthan Evam Vikas Samiti Vs. Union of India & others On July 16, 2011, it was found that around 40,000 quintal of wheat rotting in rain under the open sky in the yard of the Naini Railway Station near Allahabad. The matter was widely covered in the media. A team of four members visited the Naini railway yard, met the concerned FCI officials and prepared a report. On the basis of which a Public Interest Litigation was filed. On the same day, media reported about the hunger death of a Dalit youth in Pratapgarh. The petitioner asserted that 54 percent of the children in the state are malnourished and 50 percent women are anemic. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in its order in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties Vs. Union of India & others, had already directed the state government to make long-term arrangement of constructing godowns and short-term arrangement of hiring houses and arranging rain proof tents to keep the foodgrain safe. The petitioners had also received information through an RTI query made to FCI that 1,392 quintal of foodgrain has already rotten between the months of June, July and August this year at many places in UP. Order The case was argued before the bench of Hon'ble Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice Rakesh Chandra, which directed the District Magistrate to file counter affidavit within three days and to place the matter on 25.07.2011. The Court directed the District Magistrate to give particular answer to the paras in which the situation of starvation and hunger has been specifically mentioned about southern part of Allahabad. On 25.07.2011 further one week time has been given to FCI and matter is listed for 03.08.2011. Order is awaited.