Chhattisgarh High Court orders Rs 25,000 per child after dog soils mid-day meal
The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the State to pay Rs. 25,000 to each pupil who consumed a mid-day meal soiled by a dog at Government Middle School, Lachchhanpur, finding the State negligent in ensuring food safety.
The incident took place on July 28 at a Government Middle School where a self-help group distributed the food despite it being soiled. The High Court took suo motu cognizance of the matter. In pursuance of court's order, a two-member committee of the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) and Block Education Officer visited the school on August 2 and submitted its report on August 6.
The report stated that following the incident, 84 students were administered three doses of anti-rabies vaccine between July 30 and August 8. The Chief Medical and Health Officer reported that the children were declared fit after health checks and remain under observation at the primary health centre in Lachchhanpur.
Taking the report on record, court noted that the state had taken disciplinary action: the self-help group, Jai Laxmi Swa Sahayata Samuh, was removed from mid-day meal duties and barred from government benefits. The in-charge principal, cluster principal, headmaster, teachers and the cluster coordinator were placed under suspension. The Joint Director of Education imposed a minor penalty (one increment without cumulative effect) on three teachers. Copies of suspension and punishment orders were placed on record.
Court noted that the Collector also issued directions mandating fences around kitchen sheds, bleaching of premises twice a week, quality checks of food items, compulsory handwashing before meals, and parental participation in supervision. The Directorate of School Education circulated similar guidelines on August 7.
Despite these measures, the bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru observed that the state had failed in its duty to provide safe food to schoolchildren and the children deserved just compensation.
Moreover, court noted that on the issue of fixation of food items in the Anganwadi Centers, the State had filed a reply wherein vide letter dated February 17, 2025, the State had requested the Center for revising the prices of the food items, but seven months had passed and no reply had been received from the Central Government.
Therefore, while allowing the Central Government Counsel appearing for the Ministry of Women & Child Development, New Delhi, one week's time to inform the court regarding the steps taken by the Union of India in that regard, court directed the registry to implead the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, as a party.
Moreover, the Joint Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Chhattisgarh, has also been directed to file a personal affidavit on the condition of dilapidated anganwadi buildings.
The matter will be heard next on September 17, 2025.
Case Title: In the matter of suo moto public interest litigation vs the Chief Secretary & others
Order Date: August 19, 2025
Bench: Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru