JUDGMENT

Sanjay Karol, C.J. - The story of the children of the State of Bihar cannot be one of schools to scraps. With this view, this Court took suo moto cognizance of a news item titled, "School shut, no mid-day meal, children in Bihar village back to work selling scrap", Dipankar Goshe, 'School shut, no mid-day meal, children in Bihar village back to work selling scrap', The Indian Express (New Delhi, 6 July 2020) available at . published in the Indian Express, Delhi Edition, dated July 6, 2020.

2. On July 6, 2020, this Court, while issuing notice, inter alia observed as under:

"4. The news article highlights an issue of public importance and relevance. It concerns the welfare of children hailing from the lower most strata of the society; the marginalized, downtrodden, socially and economically deprived section of the society. Adequate nutrition is essential for school children's health and wellbeing. Children are kept away from schools and Anganwadi centres to restrict the spread of COVID 19. As a result, many nutrition deficient children who rely heavily on government schemes to meet their daily nutrition requirements have been put at risk. The disruption and closure of schools