The Madras high court threatened to initiate contempt of court actions against Sago Serve, a cooperative society of sago manufacturers in Salem, if they obstruct any food safety officials from inspecting industries and godowns storing sago.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan issued the stern warning, after it was submitted to the bench by PIL-petitioner Kallakurichi Vellalapatti Vivasayigal Munnetra Sangam of Namakkal district and officials that they were unable to access the godowns to verify whether rejected sago materials were being stored there.The bench also directed the district food safety officer to give his views in four weeks.
The matter relates to a PIL filed by the Sangam stating Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, who are predominant manufacturers and suppliers of sago in India, added acid and other chemicals to make it look attractive. Noting that it is harmful for health, they said consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat had even stopped consumption because of high presence of chemicals. It indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers, the Sangam said.
The judges said, “Since the matter relates to the purity of an edible product which is widely available and consumed, it is necessary that the authorities bestow urgent consideration on the matter, taking the nine-test parameter, so that we have the benefit of a final view as to what should be the necessary test to be followed.“
No comments:
Post a Comment