Calcutta High Court in Kolkata. File.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit after the State said that no decision has yet been taken on entrusting the PM-POSHAN (midday meal) scheme in Kolkata schools to ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).
The direction was passed by a Division Bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Sirsanya Bandopadhyay challenging the West Bengal government’s proposal to hand over the responsibility of food preparation for PM-POSHAN scheme in Kolkata to ISKCON.
The petition claimed that the move would mean depriving students of eggs under the scheme and the loss of livelihood of thousands of self-help group (SHG) members engaged in preparing midday meals.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay said the objective of the PM-POSHAN scheme is not only to provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren but also to generate employment for women through self-help groups.
In response, the court asked for the official notification regarding the matter. However, Advocate General Surojit Nath Mitra told the court that “no decision has yet been taken in this respect. Hence, the entire petition is premature and proceeds on the basis of an assumption”.
He stated that a clause in the scheme permits the use of centralised kitchens in urban areas where schools have space constraints for cooking and that such kitchens can be run using the PPP (public-private partnership) model.
Mr. Bandopadhyay, however, argued that the Chief Minister has already announced the proposal on the floor of the State Assembly and that when ISKCON gets the job, all SHG workers and women would be removed.
“Let them file an affidavit saying the Chief Minister didn’t make such a statement. It cannot be disputed. It is not for the Bar to say. It is a record, the CM is saying,” he argued.
The court adjourned the matter for four weeks and directed the State to file an affidavit in this regard.
The announcement to engage ISKCON was made in the State Budget presented by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta on June 22.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had welcomed the proposal, saying, “Children will get good food under the midday meal scheme.“
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, particularly Trinamool Congress, which has claimed that it is an attempt by the BJP government to impose vegetarianism as the ISCKON will stop providing eggs under the scheme.
Published – July 08, 2026 10:30 pm IST
