Mar 14, 2013

Food Adulteration: HC seeks timeframe from Govt to implement FSSA in J&K

Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Wednesday directed government about the time to be taken by it for finalization of “comprehensive proposal” for making the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) “effective and visible on the ground.”
The directions were passed by a division bench of the court comprising Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Janak Raj Kotwal while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by a lawyer Sheikh Ayoub, seeking implementation of the FSSA in the state.
The directions followed the submission by Food Commissioner— Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, who is also Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, that a comprehensive proposal is under the “active” consideration of the Government for the implementation of Act, aimed to control the menace of the food adulteration in the state.
Dwivedi’s submissions were in compliance with the previous court directions, asking government to make available staff “to constitute service in terms of the Act, so as to avoid any confusion in (its) implementation.”
The court once again asked authorities to take samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds.
“The authorities are directed to submit the report in a tabulated form so as to indicate as to how many items of each type have been taken and results thereof.”
The direction by the court followed the perusal of the report filed by the concerned authorities which it “found nothing but an eye wash.”
The court also did not appreciate compliance report filed by authorities regarding the test the milk which is sold in the open market.
“Throughout the state, small number of samples has been taken, which can be termed as pick and choose. To say that the (previous) direction has been compiled with, we don’t appreciate it.”
The court directed concerned authorities to show their “commitment” and asked them to carry milk testing on weekly basis.
“The concerned agency shall submit the report through District Head wherein it shall be clearly indicated as to how many times in a week they have the milk as sold in the market and result of the tests shall also be indicated therein clearly.”
The Court also directed Municipal Corporation to constitute a special task force area-wise to strictly monitor, on weekly basis, the supply and sale of food articles.   
 The court also directed all District Magistrates in the state to closely monitor functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts.
The court once again directed the magistrates to convene fortnightly meetings with all the officers for the purpose and file compliance report by the end of this month.
“In this behalf, all the district magistrates shall submit their compliance report by or before next date (of hearing on 1st April.”
The court also asked government to suggest whether process for establishing Food Safety Appellate Tribunal has been initiated.

Panel to suggest ways for supply of quality mutton in absence of abattoir

Srinagar: With no slaughter house in Kashmir, J&K High Court has asked government to constitute an expert committee to suggest how standard quality mutton can be supplied to people until required abattoirs are established in the Valley.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of the court comprising Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Janak Raj Kotwal said that committee shall include the “appropriate authorities of Municipal Corporation.”
Besides suggesting how quality mutton can be supplied to people, the court said the committee shall propose measures for controlling the activities of the butchers and dealers in selling the quality meat to the public at the rates fixed by the government.
“The committee as shall be constituted shall submit its report within two weeks,” the bench said.
The directions by the court followed submission by the SMC that process for the construction of an abattoir at the cost of 37 crores at Tengpora here was under progress.
Earlier Commissioner Secretary submitted that there was no slaughter house functional in Kashmir division while there six abattoirs were functioning in Jammu division (three in Jammu district and as many as Ramban district). The government also informed that all of them were in hygienic condition.
The court was hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

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