Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over not providing the necessary infrastructure to Food Safety Appellate Tribunal and issued directions to the chief secretary to strengthen the food safety mechanism in the state.
The division bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and D C Somani in its order on suo motu petition on food adulteration said "in compliance of court order the government appointed the presiding officer but as far as budget, infrastructure, logistics and staff are concerned, we are not satisfied with the steps that have been taken by the government."
It said as the Appellate Tribunal, it is expected that there should be a separate budget head and complete staff at its disposal.
"Orders passed from the office of directorate, medical & health services are on record but the ground reality, even as on today there is no building and logistics provided where the officer, who has been appointed to man as the presiding officer of the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, could function and almost three months have rolled after the officer being appointed on January 29 this year."
The court observed "It is a sorry state of affairs that the government is not taking such matters seriously."
Taking note of the fact that appointment of food safety officers has not received required attention of the officials of the state, the court issued many directions.
The court said the chief secretary of the state would ensure that the cadre rules for appointment to the post of food safety officer were approved and notified by the state of Rajasthan within one month from today.
Secondly, the chief secretary of the state would draw tentative schedule regarding recruitment/appointment/promotion of food safety officers and the food safety officers to be appointed should have requisite qualification as per rule 2.1.3 of the Rules of 2011.
Thirdly, qualified food safety officers should be appointed within a period of three months from the date of framing and approval of cadre rules by an independent agency like Rajasthan Public Service Commission or Subordinate Services Board, whichever may be applicable or by an independent committee to be constituted by the chief secretary of the state of Rajasthan.
The court said to give effect to above directions, the state of Rajasthan should scout for the best talent, who is conversant with modern techniques regarding manufacture and processing of safe and wholesome food, and such officers to be inducted should be capable of ensuring that unsafe, sub-standard, mis-branded food is not sold in the state of Rajasthan and the state is free from sale and import of adulterated food.
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