Patna, May 21(BiharTimes): The Patna High Court has expressed serious concern over a disturbing incident in Bihar’s Saharsa district, where “small snakes” were allegedly found in food served to schoolchildren under the PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) scheme.
The matter came up during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before a division bench comprising Justices Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Mohit Kumar Shah. The court flagged the shocking claim and sought detailed explanations from the authorities regarding food safety and hygiene practices.
The incident relates to two government schools in Baluaha and Chandrayan villages, where a total of 189 children fell ill on May 7 after consuming the mid-day meal. According to submissions made before the court, “small snakes” were reportedly recovered from the food plates in one of the schools, leading to panic among students.
The bench also raised questions over alleged discrepancies in the collection and testing of food samples. It asked whether proper procedures were followed in handling the contaminated food and whether the testing process maintained transparency and accuracy.
Taking a serious view, the High Court emphasized that incidents affecting the health of children cannot be ignored and called for accountability. It directed the concerned authorities to submit a comprehensive report detailing the cause of the contamination, medical response provided to the affected children, and preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
Officials had earlier stated that the children received timely medical attention and were later discharged. However, the incident has triggered concern among parents and local residents, who have demanded strict action against those responsible.
The case is likely to be heard again soon, with the High Court expected to closely monitor the investigation and the steps taken by the state authorities to strengthen food safety under the PM POSHAN scheme.
