‘Ensure hygienic, quality food at Railway outlets’ - THE HINDU

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India on a public interest litigation seeking directions for ensuring supply of hygienic and quality food at Railway outlets and in trains.
Issuing the notices, a Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice A. K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the respondents to file replies to the petition by October 31, the next date of hearing.
The petitioner, Sardar Jagjit Singh, through counsel K. C. Mittal submitted that the respondents should be directed to implement effectively the Safety and Standards Act and the Food Safety and Standards Rules to safeguard the health of those 23 million passengers who travel everyday by train across the country.
Evidence in CD
Submitting a CD to the Court highlighting “unhygienic conditions” in pantry cars in different trains, the petitioner said the saddest part was the insensitivity and failure on the part of the respondents to take adequate steps to ensure sale and supply of unadulterated, wholesome and hygienic food to passengers.
The petitioner also urged the Court to direct the respondents to establish prosecuting and adjudicating authorities and food safety tribunals at micro levels to monitor and check food adulteration at railway stations.

Merchants to down shutters on October 3

Merchants organised under the banner of the Kerala Vyapari Vyvasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) will go on a strike on October 3 in protest against the alleged harassment by officials and seeking changes in the law governing food safety.

T. Naziruddin, president of the samithi, in a statement here on Tuesday, alleged that though the Centre had postponed the enforcement of the provisions of the food safety Act, overzealous officials were persecuting merchants misusing its provisions.

Merchants would keep shops closed on October 3 and organise demonstrations in front of food safety offices at all district headquarters.

In capital

In Thiruvanathapuram, the demonstration would be in front of the office of the Commissioner for Food Safety.

The organisation appealed to the Union government to scrap the decision to allow 51 per cent foreign district investment (FDI) in the retail sector.