Telangana HC asks state to tighten oversight of food quality, improve basic amenities in schools

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has asked the state government to tighten oversight of food quality and improve basic amenities in government-run residential schools, hostels, and standalone hostels.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on Wednesday, Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G. M. Mohiuddin said teachers should eat along with students to prevent food poisoning and strengthen accountability in the mid-day meal programme.

PIL seeks basic amenities

The petition, filed by Keethineedi Akhil Sri Guru Teja, urged the Court to direct the State to provide essential facilities, such as adequate toilets, bathrooms, wardens, and support staff matching the number of students.

Counsel Chikkudu Prabhakar argued that repeated incidents of food poisoning show poor enforcement of earlier HC orders and non-compliance with guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

State counters allegations

Additional Advocate General Md. Imran Khan refuted the petitioner’s claims, stating that District Education Officers (DEOs) regularly monitor schools and hostels.

He said over three lakh students are served meals daily without disruption, and that isolated illness cases were promptly treated in government hospitals. The state, he added, has constituted a committee, also including a central government representative, to supervise the mid-day meal scheme.

Court’s Observations

The Bench remarked that sharing meals fosters vigilance: “If teachers have food with the students daily, food poisoning incidents won’t arise,” the Chief Justice observed. He further underlined that “student participation in school-related work instills respect for labour and the value of hard work.”

Next hearing

The Court adjourned the matter to September 19, 2025, directing the State to respond with concrete measures on food safety and infrastructure upgrades.