The Madras High Court Bench here has restrained the State Government as well as the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) from procuring masoor dhal for distribution through the public distribution system (PDS) in pursuance of a government order (G.O.) issued on March 6 and a June 24 calling for tenders.
A Division Bench of Justices K.K. Sasidharan and G.R. Swaminathan granted the interim injunction in light of another G.O. that had been issued on March 1, 2007, prohibiting the supply of masoor dhal to noon-meal centres since the presence of kesar dhal in it was reported to be harmful to the health of children. Claiming that kesar dhal was a weed that grows along with masoor dhal and that it was impossible to procure the latter without the presence of the former, the petitioner pointed out that the social welfare department had issued the 2007 G.O. after confirming the Collector’s claim through independent sources.
