Allow parents to collect eggs, sanitary napkins till schools reopen, orders HC

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha, which had kept its order in abeyance for a day at the request of the government counsel to get instructions from the authorities, said it was aware of the various logistical issues faced by the government in the distribution of the eggs. But all such difficulties could be overcome depending on the importance that is given to the issue, it added.

Pointing out that the process of distributing eggs would most probably last only until October or November, the bench said, “As and when schools reopen, the existing scheme of giving children boiled eggs along with the noon-meal would resume.”

Allowing the parents (instead of children) to collect the eggs, the bench also directed the government to provide sanitary napkins to girl children either along with dry rations or some means wherein an enumeration and inventory was in place to make sure that all girls got them.

The bench led by Justice Sundresh also suggested the phasing out of the distribution of eggs so that social distancing was maintained. Though the court was aware that such issues were not within the realm of judiciary, it was only thinking aloud on continuing the supply of eggs to children even during the lockdown because that was the lone protein supplement the children part of the scheme got, the court added. Offering eggs in a phased manner would also enable such families get a wholesome meal.

Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that the government was not averse to supplying eggs but was only worried about that less shelf life of the eggs, which is about just six days and the children should not end up getting rotten eggs.

The government had pointed out possible violation of social distancing norms to argue that it was impractical, and earned a stinging rebuke from the bench which asked if that was the case how it could reopen Tasmac shops to sell liquor.