Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday May 27 directed the State Government to act immediately to implement the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).

The court also ordered that the State Government ensure the supply of quality nutrition as per government order dated May 5, 2021, and circular dated July 2, 2020, and that food product that does not meet specifications and standards as per revised nutrition and feeding norms be suspended with immediate effect.

In the state, there are more than 50 lakh ICDS beneficiaries. The order was reserved after a division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S. R. Krishna Kumar reviewed the petitions filed by Sangeeta Gadagin of Bagalkot and two others regarding the implementation of ICDS in the State. The court noted that the circular and government order was issued in accordance with and according to the National Food Security Act and that removing the circular and order by passing the impugned orders would cause the state’s ICDS implementation to be delayed.

The State Government has been directed to procure the final products specified in the contract at a competitive rate and supply them to Anganwadi centres if the parties fail to perform their duties, the court said.