Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 27: The State High Court today expressed serious concern over the lack of infrastructure, manpower and the manner food stuffs are being checked by the Food Safety Department.
The Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey expressed its serious concern over the menace of food adulteration and inability and powerlessness shown by the Food Safety officials to curb the menace.
The DB after perusal of the report of the respondents questioned to the officials of the Food Safety that instead of checking the food items in the market why don’t you check these items before entering in the markets.
Court over the increasing food adulteration observed to these officials:”You sit at home, what for you are getting salaries. You have left people to the mercy of God”.
Court enquired from them on what basis they destroyed the milk yesterday. They replied that the milk was tested with lactometer; the apparatus according to amicus detects only density of fat in milk. He said that what contents are present in the milk cannot be detected by the said apparatus.
Court further observed that matter is of great importance and in the larger interest of people of the State. “We will not allow people to suffer. There is total lack of testing method, manpower, no laboratory is practically functional but for the sake of name, reason being cancer is increasing day by day”, DB passed further remarks.
Court during the course of arguments has also been informed by the Amicus Curie that one of the Food Safety officers, Zeenat, has been tortured and transferred by her own department for honesty. She has given true report against one of the Companies which is processing milk, but the officials present in the Court submitted that she has been transferred on her request as there was some personal problem with her. But the Bashir Ahmed Bashir told the court that she pursued for her transfer after she was targeted by the officials of the Food Safety Department for her honesty.
Court while reserving its orders for further consideration observed that Chief Secretary of the State along with Commissioner /Secretary and other officials to be called in the court to which State counsel requested the court that except Chief Secretary other officials may be called as they can explain their position before the court and all efforts will be done to tackle with the situation. However, the orders for their personal appearance have been reserved by the court.
The suo-moto proceedings with regard to issue of food adulteration have been taken by the High Court after it was reported in media that consumption of adulterated and carcinogenic food items in the Valley are being sold in the State.
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