Shipra Devi vs State Of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Deptt. Of Women And Child Developement Lko And 3 Others

Headnote AI-drafted · Reviewed and approved

These Public Interest Litigations were filed highlighting the lack of proper implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, resulting in malnutrition among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 6 months to 6 years in the State of Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, had earlier constituted a three-member Committee to examine ground realities of implementing the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), and the Committee's report was taken on record on 07.07.2025, following which three specific questions were framed concerning the role of Self-Help Groups, the interim supply of dry ration through NAFED, and the accountability of SHGs as non-juristic entities.

The State of U.P. challenged the order dated 20.02.2025 by filing a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court, which disposed of the same on 21.07.2025 without interfering on merits, while observing that the High Court may consider deciding the recall application first. However, the High Court, noting that the credentials of the committee members were strongly questioned by the State, chose not to rely on the committee report and instead proceeded to hear the matter on merits with the consent of all parties, rendering the recall application irrelevant.

The Court proceeded to hear substantive arguments on 23.07.2025, 24.07.2025, 28.07.2025, and 29.07.2025, focusing on issues of quantity and quality checks under the ICDS Scheme, the consonance of NAFED's interim dry ration supply with applicable law, and the collective or several accountability of SHGs for scheme implementation. The judgment text as extracted addresses the procedural history and framing of issues, with the matter being heard on merits and parties agreeing to judicial discretion on the quantum of legal fees payable to committee members.

Catchwords: Public Interest Litigation · ICDS Scheme · Integrated Child Development Services · Supplementary Nutrition Programme · malnutrition · pregnant women · lactating mothers · children · Self-Help Groups · SHG accountability · NAFED dry ration supply · committee report · recall application · Special Leave Petition · Uttar Pradesh · juristic person · quality and quality checks · U.P. State Rural Livelihood Mission · Legal Services Authority