Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Govern-ment today informed the High Court that Finance Department has cleared the proposal for creation of post of Commissioner Food Safety and Court directed that they be appointed immediately along with supportive staff.
Counsel for Health and Medical Education Department today submitted before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Alok Aradhe that the department had submitted proposal to Finance Department for creation of post along with supportive staff.
However, the Counsel submitted that the Department has given clearance only for creation of Commissioner Food Safety and the office of Commissioner cannot function without the availability of the supportive staff.
He further added that H&ME department has re-submitted the proposal for creation of supportive staff for Commissioner’s office which include Private Secretary, Law Officer, Section Officer, Head Assistant, Senior Assistant, Junior Assistant, Driver and orderlies.
Court has been also informed that SSB has recommended select list of 16 Food Safety Officers and one Assistant Public Analyst and their appointment order will be issued shortly.
With regard to accreditation of both laboratories at Jammu as well Srinagar, Court has been informed that department has applied to National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration Laboratories (NABL) and the acknowledgement of the board has been received by the department. Court directed for latest status in the connection by next date.
As regards to premise (Kitchen) adjacent to the Laboratory at Srinagar, which was occupied by police, court has been informed that the kitchen has been removed. However, the space is yet to be vacated. Court directed the same be cleared from all the encumbrances and status be filed by next date indicating there-in the entire premise is handed over to Laboratory.
Report of installation of necessary equipments and functions performed by these equipments in food testing laboratories of Srinagar and Jammu has also been placed before the court.
Court has also been informed that seven mobile labs are presently in place among them three are functioning for Jammu, three for Kashmir and one is functioning for Leh. Court directed the authorities to report the court on next date for proper functioning of these mobile labs.