Jammu, December 2
The business community is up in arms against the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for the anti-adulteration drive launched two months ago.
The traders allege that officials are harassing shopkeepers, especially the owners of eateries. Members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) protested the methods adopted by the health officials.
They claimed that the MC officials had created an "atmosphere of harassment" during the past two months and traders had not even received notices before their premises were sealed and fine imposed on them.
"We received complaints from various quarters that the premises of traders and shopkeepers, especially those dealing inh eatables, are being sealed without giving any prior notice, warning or reason for the same," said CCI president YV Sharma.
Sharma said there was need to create awareness about the Food Safety and Standards Act, but no efforts had been made to talk to traders and owners of eateries.
A press note by the CCI said the chamber had also received representations from the traders whose premises had been sealed on the pretext of some violations. "We don't support any violation, but expect officials to act with due caution, balance and judiciousness and they should not appear to be taking action under excess official authority," says the statement.
The CCI has claimed that there are reports that within two months there have been around 20 to 25 sealing operations, which has sent shock waves among the trading community. "We understand that sealing is the last punitive action available to the authorities and this has to be exercised in compelling circumstances where wilful violation is committed, otherwise there are other ways to punish the violators of law and rules," it claims.
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