SC raps Gujarat for not implementing food security law

New Delhi, Feb 1  The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Gujarat government for not implementing the National Food Security Act, asking if it was not part of India or wanted to break away.

Taking exception to the Gujarat government's stand that it had not implemented the food security act since it had some issues with the law, an apex court bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice N.V. Ramana asked: "You have to tell us whether you believe in parliament of India or law passed by it. If not, then why?"

Asking if Gujarat was "unique", the court said its stand amounted to undermining the law. "The National Food Security Act extends to the whole of India. How can Gujarat say (how) it will be implemented?"

Saying that Gujarat's stand was "sad", the court asked: "What is parliament of India doing? What is the government doing?"

The bench said if the court was to accept Gujarat's stand, other states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana etc too would say that they will not implement the said law because Gujarat was not doing so.

"Tomorrow, some other states will say they will not implement the Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code or the Evidence Act as they have issues with the provisions of these laws," the court observed, pointing to the implications of the Gujarat government's stand.

The court's rap came during the hearing of a public interest litigation by a non-governmental organisation Swaraj Abhiyan seeking relief for people living in drought-affected states.