SC seeks response from 5 states on sale of adulterated milk by July 31

The Supreme Court, on July 2, 2013, expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk all over the country and sought response from Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi by July 31in this regard.
This was in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Swami Achyutanand Tirth on behalf of the Swami Bhumanand Dharmarth Chikitsalya and Research Institute in Haridwar.
The SC has also sought response from the apex food body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), about milk adulteration and production of synthetic milk.
Speaking to FnB News, Swami Tirth informed, “The petition which was filed by me was a follow up to the milk adulteration study released by FSSAI in January 2012. During the survey FSSAI found nearly 70 per cent of the milk samples adulterated, the samples did not conform to the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.”
He added, “The synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint which accordign to studies are very dangerous for health and can cause serious diseases like cancer. The survey by FSSAI says that most of the samples of milk collected did not comply with standards. Fortysix per cent belonged to the category of low Solid Not Fat (SNF) and this was due to dilution of the milk with water.”
“If the people are paying the money for milk they should get genuine milk. People are being cheated with adulterated milk. In my petition, I have also sought framing of a comprehensive policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk,” stated Tirth.
Hearing the PIL, a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose queried, “ Milk adulteration is a very serious issue and it is happening all over the country. What action the government is taking to curb the increasing incidence of milk adulteration?
The bench hearing the PIL directed the government of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the center submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue.
The ambit of the PIL would later on expand to include all the states in the country on the issue, informed the court. The bench also posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time would be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court observed that milk adulteration cases were increasing because of gaps in demand and supply of milk. Mean while, Tirth said, “The SC has given time limit till July 31 to all the states. Some states have replied to the notice and five states – Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi are yet to reply. We will be taking further action after the hearing on July 31.”