In Brief
The Supreme Court examined a Public Interest Litigation challenging the closure of Anganwadi Centres during COVID-19 lockdowns. Anganwadi Centres provide supplementary nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children up to six years under the National Food Security Act, 2013. The Court held that States must reopen Anganwadi Centres outside containment zones by 31 January 2021, unless a State Disaster Management Authority directs otherwise. The Court emphasised that providing adequate nutrition meeting statutory standards is a constitutional duty under Article 21 (right to life) and Article 47 (State's duty to raise nutrition levels). States must ensure proper monitoring and establish complaint redressal mechanisms to guarantee beneficiaries receive entitled nutrition."
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