Chhattisgarh told to pay Rs 25,000 each to students served mid-day meal licked by dog

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the state government to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to each of the 84 students who consumed a contaminated mid-day meal after a stray dog licked the food at a government school in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district.

The incident took place on July 28 in Lachchhanpur village, where food prepared under the mid-day meal scheme by a self-help group was allegedly soiled by a stray dog. Despite warnings from students, the contaminated food was distributed, prompting the court to take suo motu cognizance of the matter on August 4.

An inquiry report submitted by the state said all 84 children were administered three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine as a precaution and kept under observation at the Lachchhanpur primary health center. The report confirmed that all students remained medically fit.

The court was informed that the self-help group responsible for preparing the food had been removed from the scheme and barred from receiving further government benefits. Several school staff, including the principal and some teachers, were also suspended.

Holding the state accountable for negligence, the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru directed that the compensation be paid within a month. The bench observed that while the children had received timely medical care, it was ultimately the state’s duty to ensure safe and hygienic meals in schools.

Earlier on August 4, the court had remarked: “Providing food to the students studying in the schools is not an empty formality and the same has to be done with dignity. A person, especially an innocent child, cannot be served any eatables which has been licked or soiled by a dog.”