The Supreme Court today passed a slew of directions for effective implementation of provisions of the National Food Security (NFS) Act while observing that its compliance has been "pathetic".<br/>'<br/>A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and N V Ramana directed that the secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, should convene one or more meetings on or before August 31 of the secretaries concerned of all the states and Union territories to take stock of the implementation of the Act.<br/>'<br/>While giving a number of directives,the court said a law enacted by Parliament as a part of its social justice obligation must be given its due respect and must be implemented faithfully, sincerely and positively before the end of this year.<br/>'<br/>The apex court's verdict came on a plea filed by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan seeking various reliefs for farmers in drought-affected states.