Jaya Singh v. Dept. of Health and Family Welfare & Ors.

1. This Public Interest Litigation has been preferred with the following prayers: “1. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction to the Respondents to provide a list of the 2020:DHC:234-DB number of beneficiaries who availed cash assistance under JSY, JSSK and PMMVY schemes.

2. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction to the Respondents to file a status report of the schemes availed by the beneficiaries in Bhalswa dairy.

3. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction to the Respondents as how are they going to ensure the implementation of schemes in Bhalswa dairy.

4. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction to the Respondents to ensure the services in the Bhalswa Dairy of ASHA workers in the JJ colony for the efficiency of the schemes as perNational Health Mission.

5. Pass an order directing the respondents to open bank accounts of pregnant women and lactating mothers in Bhalswa to ensure benefits under JSY, JJSK and PMMVY are implemented.

6. Pass an order directing the respondents to organize periodic awareness campaigns for the women and the Anganwadi workers in Bhalswa Dairy.

7. Pass an order directing the respondents to submit a report relating to the adequate facilities for cooking, drinking water and sanitation in Anganwadi Centres of Bhalswa dairy.

8. Pass an order directing the respondents to ensure health nutrition dry ration and cooked meal and are disbursed in Anganwadi Centres in Bhalswa dairy as directed by the Supreme Court vide order dated 28.11.2001 in People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India & Others.

9. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction to the Respondents to ensure effective and efficient functionality of grievance redress mechanisms as per Section 14 of the National Food Security Act, at nodal, district and state levels.

10. For any such other and suitable order/s as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.”

2. Having heard the counsel for both the sides and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that several grievances have been ventilated by this petitioner regarding proper implementation of various schemes meant for pregnant women/new born living children/lactating mothers, viz. Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

3. Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, we hereby direct the concerned respondent authorities to treat this writ petition as representation and after looking into the grievances ventilated therein, take requisite steps in accordance with law, rules, regulations and Government policy applicable to the facts of the present case. Moreover, similarly situated writ petition being W.P.(C) 178/2020 titled Puttam vs. Dept. of Health & Family Welfare & Ors. was also disposed of by this Court vide order/judgment dated 10th January, 2020 and it is expected from the respondents that they will take action as early as possible and practicable in accordance with law.

4. With the aforesaid observation, this writ petition is hereby disposed of.

CHIEF JUSTICE C.HARI SHANKAR, J JANUARY 14, 2020 ns