EKTA SHAKTI FOUNDATION vs GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of certain terms in the 'Detailed Scheme for Capacity Building of Self Help Groups' under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Programme, specifically the requirement of three years' experience for eligibility. The Court held that this stipulation, as per the observations made in Writ Petition (C) No. 196 of 2001, was not aligned with the objectives of the scheme and could exclude genuine organizations. The Court emphasized the need for involving local communities and self-help groups in the implementation of the scheme, thereby reinforcing the directive against using contractors for procurement.