FSSAI row trips Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry has been forced to withdraw its controversial decision of handing over additional charge of Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) chief executive officer (CEO) to its chairperson, after the move sparked a row. 

Intriguingly, the Law Ministry had washed its hands of the matter when its opinion was sought, saying the issue had no relevance since the Health Minister had already given charge.

However, on Monday, the Ministry took away the additional charge from FSSAI chairperson K Chandramouli and handed it over to the Additional Secretary & DG (CGHS) RK Jain.

The move follows objections by Rajya Sabha member Brajesh Pathak, who heads the Parliamentary panel on health and family welfare. In his letter of April 30 to the Health Ministry, he also took exception to the fact that the post of the CEO of the top food body had been lying vacant for over 120 days, “resulting in misgovernance by the officiating incumbent”. 

The post has been lying vacant since January this year, when incumbent SN Mohanty stepped down. Mohanty too had warned that the “additional charge of the CEO cannot be given to the chairperson of the authority as he/she cannot hold any other office as spelt out in the Act”.

Pathak pointed out that the move to hand over charge of CEO to the chairperson had resulted in many “unforeseen actions,” like extending date of licensing and registration without following the parliamentary process laid down. “States have not only suffered loss of large revenues but administration of the new law has become redundant till February 4, next year, which may seriously jeopardise public health, at many places,” he added.

The Law Ministry’s role in the issue also raises eyebrows. Instead  of giving its opinion whether such a move was legally allowed, when approached by the Health Ministry for clarification, the Law Ministry simply chose to side with the Health Minister (Ghulam Nabi Azad).

Internal politics too had its share of play. Sources say that Mohanty and Chandramouli were not in cordial relations with each other on various issues and the latest bone of contention was the former’s move to tighten the noose against the food manufacturers for their misleading advertisements.

They said Chandramouli in the recent past had been taking some executive decisions too such as transfer and appointment of officers in violation of the mandate of the FSSAI Act. 

Moreover, in the absence of a full time CEO, many decisions including those on financial matters are lying pending.