HC whip on milk adulterators Directs authorities to take milk, curd samples once in two weeks

Srinagar, February 25

To check adulteration in food items, the J&K High Court has directed the authorities concerned to lift the samples of milk and curd sold in the market by different companies under different brand names at least once in two weeks and send the samples for analysis to the notified food testing laboratories. 

The court in its directions, made available today, has also directed the authorities to prosecute the manufacturers/companies if found involved in adulterations of the food items in the light of the analysis reports received from these laboratories. 

These directions have been issued by a division bench of the J&K High Court, while hearing a PIL on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state. 

“The respondents are directed to lift samples of toned milk, skimmed milk and other types of milk/curd or any other milk products marketed by MS Khyber Agro Foods and milk farms at least once in two weeks and to forward the samples to a notified laboratory…. and to produce the analysis report in the court,” the court said in its orders. 

It also directed the authorities concerned to lift the food items marketed by Avon and Kanwal Foods at random at least once in two weeks for analysis and produce the analysis report before the court. 

“The respondents are directed to lift other samples of the milk and curd marketed by other companies at least once in two weeks,” the court added. 

Earlier, on December 24, 2013, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court had ordered owners of three food and spice companies, Avon, Kanwal Foods and Khyber Agro Foods and Milk Farms to pay Rs 10 crore each to a premier government-run medical institute, SKIMS, Srinagar, following reports that their products were found adulterated in laboratory tests. 

However, these companies succeeded in getting a stay from the Supreme Court against these directions of the J&K High Court. 

“The manufacturers of the three adulterated food items were directed to deposit Rs 10 crore each with the Director, SKIMS, and were also directed to withdraw food items in the question…The directions regarding deposit of Rs 10 crore each has been stated by the Supreme Court....However, the manufacturers/companies are not permitted to sell/market the produce forming subject matter of the petition,” the high court observed in its fresh orders.