HC raps Comr Health for failure to ensure quality edibles at genuine rates

Official asked to explain his position

Srinagar, Jan 22: The J&K High Court has directed a notice to Commissioner-Secretary Health Services J&K to explain why he has not conducted any review meeting as designated Food Commissioner in facilitating provision of quality edible items to the general public at genuine prices.

After hearing a plea that the Commissioner Health Services J&K, the designated Food Commissioner for the state, has not conducted even once a review meeting during the last two years for facilitating provision of quality edible items to the general public at reasonable prices, a division bench of the High Court directed a notice to the official to explain his position.

The plea was made by advocate G M Wani who is pleading a public interest litigation (PIL) stating that the general public in the state especially Kashmir have been taken for a ride by the bureaucracy and contaminated edibles continue to be sold in the market and that there is no mechanism to put the prices of essential food items under control.

Wani informed the court that despite a hierarchy of officials being under the control and command of the Commissioner to oblige his responsibilities towards the public, the official is virtually presiding over a fraud being played with the general public by some dishonest businessmen and their retailers.

Food Safety and Standards Act was enacted in the state in 2006 but it remains unimplemented so far, Wani said.

Observing that the issue of price of essential commodities concerns a common man, the J-K High Court some ago had directed the authorities of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department to explain what inputs are taken into account for determining the prices of essential commodities.

They were asked to explain the process for declaring a particular edible commodity as an essential commodity but no tangible action has been taken so far even in this regard, Wani said.

Besides, the authorities concerned were also asked to explain the process for declaring a particular commodity as an essential commodity within the meaning of the Essential Commodities Act and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Essential Commodities Act.

Earlier in its observations, the Bench said the affidavit filed by the CAPD authorities failed to show the parameters and the factors which were taken into account by the authorities while fixing the prices of the essential commodities, like meat, chicken, vegetables and other edible items.

The High Court further observed that the consumers’ voice, which is significant aspect of this process, was not taken into account while fixing the prices of the essential commodities by the authorities.