Govt appoints presiding officers for Food Safety Appellate Tribunals

The presiding officers have been asked to assume the charge of the respective tribunals within a period of 21 days from the date of the issuance of the notification which is November 18.

J&K government has appointed presiding officers for two Food Safety Appellate Tribunals one each at Jammu and Srinagar which were constituted in keeping with Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 in February this year. 

The District and Sessions Judge , Muhammad Yousuf Akhoon presently Principal Secretary to Chief Justice of J&K High court and Mahraj Krishan Hanjura, member Company Law Board Delhi have been appointed as presiding officers of Food Safety Tribunal Kashmir and Food Safety Tribunal Jammu respectively. 

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (3) of Section 70 of the Food safety & Standards Act 2006 Read with Rule 3.2.1 of Food safety & Standards Act 2011, the state government hereby appoints two presiding officers for Food Safety Tribunal Kashmir and Food Safety Tribunal Kashmir Jammu respectively constituted vide notification SRO 42 of 2016 dated 10-2-16,” reads the notification issued by Health & Medical Education Department. 

The presiding officers have been asked to assume the charge of the respective tribunals within a period of 21 days from the date of the issuance of the notification which is November 18. 

Their term shall be five years from the date of joining the assignment or until they attain the age of 65 years whichever earlier. 

In February last year, the Supreme Court had pulled up the state government over what it called ‘tardy implementation’ of Food Safety Act and directed the Health and Medical Education Department to strictly implement it.

While over a period of time the government was inviting criticism over remiss to implement Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the constitution of Appellate Tribunals and appointment of presiding officers for these is believed to be a concrete step for implementation of the Act. 

On May 15, this year the state government had admitted before Jammu and Kashmir High Court that it has failed to implement Food Safety and Standard Act 2006. The court had, however, deferred disciplinary action against erring officials after Chief Secretary assured the court that he will immediately take review of the all aspects concerning the implementation of the Act.