It’s an order, SC tells Pawar, give food free

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reminded the Union agriculture minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, that the apex court’s earlier order to distribute food grains to the poor instead of letting it rot, which the minister had taken to be a “suggestion” not binding on the government, was indeed an order, and not a suggestion.

Bringing up this issue in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition cornered the government, forcing it to give an assurance that it would implement the SC order. Initiating an impromptu debate over the issue, the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Sushma Swaraj, asked why Mr Pawar had taken the apex court’s order as a suggestion.

Responding, Mr Pawar said, This government will honour the decision of the Supreme Court. The sentiment of the House will also be taken into account.

Earlier, while referring to media reports attributed to Mr Pawar wherein he said the apex court had only made a suggestion to the Centre on August 12, a bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma told additional solicitor general (ASG), Mr Mohan Parasaran, “Tell your minister not to make any such comment. What we have said is an order and not a suggestion. Let him not misunderstand our order.”