In Brief
Swaraj Abhiyan sought directions to implement social welfare schemes during a drought. The Supreme Court held that the National Food Security Act's mandate of 5 kg food grains per person monthly is a statutory obligation that cannot be denied due to fiscal constraints or lack of ration cards—alternative identity proofs suffice in emergency situations. However, the Court declined to mandate provisions beyond the Act (dal, oil). For MGNREGA, the Court found delayed wage payments to lakhs of workers unconstitutional under Articles 14 and 23, requiring compensation as prescribed. The Court rejected complaints about budgetary caps but criticized fund release delays. It directed establishment of grievance mechanisms, Food Commissions, and Employment Guarantee Councils, finding existing statutory authorities adequate without requiring Court Commissioners, and kept the case pending with continuing mandamus principles.
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