In Brief
Social activists filed a public interest petition seeking directions to States and Union Territories to implement Community Kitchens as a scheme to combat hunger and malnutrition. The Supreme Court held that while the Constitution does not explicitly guarantee a right to food, Article 21 (right to life) includes the right to live with dignity and access to basic necessities like food. Article 47 imposes a constitutional duty on States to improve nutrition and living standards. However, the Court declined to mandate Community Kitchens, finding that the National Food Security Act 2013 provides a comprehensive rights-based framework through existing schemes like ICDS and Mid-day Meals. The Court noted that judicial review of policy matters is limited and courts cannot direct specific policies merely because they appear better than alternatives. The petition was disposed, leaving States free to explore alternative welfare schemes within the NFSA framework.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.