NOWHERA SHAIK Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner claims to be a social worker. This petition has been filed as a public interest litigation espousing the cause of women workers employed under the 'Bisi Oota Mid-day Meal Scheme" in the State of Karnataka.

(2.) In the light of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, mid-day meal scheme was made compulsory in all the States of India. The State of Karnataka has implemented the mid-day meal scheme by formulating "Bisi Oota Mid-day Meal Scheme" (hereinafter referred to as 'the scheme' for short). It is the case of the petitioner that under the aforesaid scheme, women workers are employed on paltry amount of Rs.1,000.00 per month.

(3.) It has been averred in the writ petition that the women workers employed under the scheme belong to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other backward classes category. It has been stated that the aforesaid women workers who have been employed under the scheme for preparation of meals for school children, have been denied the benefit of minimum wages. It is also averred that the aforesaid women workers employed under the scheme proceeded on a strike to fulfill their demands with regard to payment of minimum wages and other facilities. It is also pleaded that the fundamental rights of the said women workers under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India have been infringed. The petitioner, therefore, has filed this petition seeking a direction to the respondents to provide minimum wages to the women workers employed under the scheme. The petitioner, in addition, seeks a direction to the respondents to provide other benefits like Maternity Leave and other Leaves including medical benefits and insurance benefits to the women workers employed under the scheme.