SWARAJ ABHIYAN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Our Constitution provides a simple answer to one disturbing question that has arisen in this case: What can the Government of India do to require the State Governments and Union Territories to make functional those bodies and authorities that are mandated by a law passed by Parliament (such as the National Food Security Act, 2013)? The answer to this is provided in Art. 256 of our Constitution - perhaps a forgotten provision - which reads as follows:

(2.) These two questions arise in the context of the seriousness with which the National Food Security Act, 2016 - a welfare legislation - is and should be implemented.

(3.) Initially the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 was promulgated by the President on 5th July, 2013. Thereafter, the National Food Security Bill, 2013 was introduced in Parliament with, amongst others, the following objectives: