Uttar Pradesh government agrees to two advisors from the Supreme Court on right to food

6th July 2005
Advisorappoint/322/UP

To
Smt. Neera Yadav
Chief Secretary
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow

Sub: Advisor to Commissioner of the Supreme Court

Dear Smt. Neera Yadav

In the case of PUCL vs Union of India and others, Writ Petition (Civil) 196 of 2001, the Supreme Court has by order dated May 8, 2002 appointed me as Commissioner to the Supreme Court.

In my capacity as the Supreme Court Commissioner, I can take the assistance of reputed individuals and organizations to help me with this task.

I am glad to inform you that Mr. I.C. Dwivedi and Ms. Arundhathi Dhuru have agreed to help me in this endeavor in your state. I request you to give them all cooperation as has been directed by the Supreme Court.

The main roles of the advisors will be:
(a) To send the commissioner regular updates about the situation in the state
(b) To convey to the commissioner any appeal for intervention that may be made in the state;
(c) To work towards a more effective monitoring and redressal system within the state.

In addition, the advisor and the secretariat will also assist in
(a) An analysis of performance of relevant schemes using macro data;
(b) Response to emergencies, like drought, starvation deaths, etc;
(c) Gathering information from the state governments on the performance of the relevant schemes and programmes;
(d) Articulating alternative demands regarding state policy especially on hunger;
(e) Preparing periodic state reports;
(f) Working towards accountability norms for public programmes related to food and food security;
(g) Arranging visits of the commissioners if necessary;
(h) Liaising with local networks, individuals and organisations to gather information from the district level and other sublevels;
(i) Handling other requests that the commissioners may make to them from time to time;
(j) At the request of the commissioners, agree to be a part of various committees pertaining to the orders of the court, or organize suitable alternatives for the same;
(k) Liaising constantly with the government on grievances and grievance redressal processes within the relevant schemes.

I will work closely with the advisors and respond to the appeals received from different states through the advisor. Advisors will be in constant touch with government authorities, in particular with the nodal officer, over the issues cited above. For this purpose, I have requested state governments to appoint a nodal officer. The advisors will liaise with this nodal officer on behalf of the Commissioner. In case the state government does not appoint a nodal officer the Chief Secretary of that state will be the contact person.

I request you to provide Shri I.C. Dwivedi and Ms. Arundhati Dhuru any relevant information that they may request from you. Please instruct your officers to fully cooperate with them towards ensuring effective
monitoring of the orders of the Supreme Court.

With Regards,

[Signed]
Dr N C Saxena

CC: Shri Ajit Seth, Assistant to Commissioner, UP