Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Tashi Rabstan today closed the PIL against food adulteration with the hope and trust that the authorities will continue to act most effectively and efficiently and would take all measured precautions so that the Food Safety and Standard Act and the Rules are not violated and the offenders are strictly punished.
“This Public Interest Litigation came to be initiated on the suo moto action of the court vide order dated 23.03.2016 on the basis of certain newspaper reports regarding unhygienic and adulterated food being sold in open market causing health hazard to the citizens”, the DB said, adding “in pursuance to the directions of the court issued from time to time, several compliance reports/status reports have been filed by the respondents”.
“The last report is by the Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety, Kashmir, in the form of a supplementary affidavit dated 05.02.2021. The report/affidavit gives the district-wise work done in the month of January 2021 of Kashmir Division as well as of Jammu Division, clearly showing the number of food samples collected from all the districts for testing”, the DB said, adding “it also states that in District Srinagar, the food business operators have been directed to register themselves under the Prime Minister SUV Nidhi Scheme so as to ensure that they are carrying their business under property sanitary conditions”.
“Advisory has also been issued to food business operators who re-use used oil for frying various food items. Under the Revised Cooking Oil Scheme (RUCO), all used cooking oil is collected by a notified agency and then is used scientifically for manufacturing of bio-diesel so as to avoid re-use of the same as a medium of cooking. This apart, the District Advisory Committee holds meeting wherein implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act is duly monitored and reviewed”, the DB observed.
Stating that respondents are taking adequate steps to control the menace of food adulteration and unhygienic conditions, the DB said, “there is no purpose in keeping this petition alive”, adding “we hope and trust that the authorities will continue to act most effectively and efficiently and would take all measured precautions so that the Food Safety and Standard Act and the Rules are not violated and the offenders are strictly punished”.
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