Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the use of calcium carbide in artificial fruit ripening, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar today directed Deputy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu to ensure that the inspections are carried out as a matter of regular feature at least on monthly basis.
The Deputy Controller was further directed to furnish reports giving the details regarding the premises checked by the team, the name of the owner of the premises visited, its location and the report of the samples taken.
“An action taken report has been filed on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu in terms of the order dated June 9, 2017. It is stated in the report that the Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, J&K was taking the requisite action under law and wherever violations were found, the same were being dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety Act and Regulations”, the DB observed.
As per the report, in the month of May 2017, approximately 21.12 quintals of mango and 30 quintals of papaya was seized from the shed of Fruit Market, Narwal by the enforcement staff appointed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which was later destroyed at the dumping ground, Bhagwati Nagar.
Last year also, artificial ripened papaya was seized from the premises of two fruit business operators at Fruit Market, Narwal, which was later destroyed. Moreover, two prosecutions have been launched against the defaulters, who had used carbide gas for ripening of fruits.
“Reference has been placed upon the report of the Deputy Commissioner, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu to show that the designated officers had been conducting intensive checking in various districts with a view to take the requisite action against those found indulging in ripening of fruits with chemicals like calcium carbide”, the DB observed, adding “from the record, it appears that the Deputy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu by order dated 2.6.2017 had designated a team of officers to carry out a special drive for five working days starting from June 12, 2017 in their respective districts to check the quality of milk and milk products and artificially ripened fresh fruits with calcium carbide and the report dated 10.7.2017 prepared by the Deputy Commissioner, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu addressed to the Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Srinagar is based upon the efforts of the team so constituted”.
“Apart from visiting the Fruits and Vegetables Market, Narwal, the team does not appear to have stated anything with regard to their visit to other parts of the city wherefrom business is being conducted”, the DB observed, adding “it is common knowledge that there are various fruit markets operating within the old city as also in the areas surrounding, which otherwise fall in the municipal limits of Jammu city. The process of ripening of fruits and vegetables by the use of calcium carbide might not be limited only to the Fruits and Vegetables market, Narwal but may be taking place in godowns being maintained by traders in and around the city of Jammu”.
“It appears as if after the seizure and destruction of 21.12 quintals of mango and 30 quintals of papaya in May 2017, everybody has stopped the usage of calcium carbide as a ripening agent, which is difficult to accept. The concerned authorities are, therefore, required to identify all those places, which are being used as godowns/storage areas for storing fruits and vegetables, which potentially may involve the usage of calcium carbide as a ripening agent”, the DB said.
The DB directed that it would be beneficial to form teams for different zones to cover the whole city of Jammu and on similar lines, other districts in the Jammu province for purposes of taking samples and conducting inspection.
With regard to the pending prosecutions, the DB directed that the department should ensure that the process is monitored by constituting a legal cell, which would be monitored by the Deputy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization with a view to ensure that launching prosecutions is not rendered illusory.
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