Indira Canteens have necessary licences: food safety officer

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the licensing of Indira Canteens in the city after the joint commissioner of Food Safety Commissionerate informed the court that all the functioning Indira Canteens are licensed and the licences have been displayed at the canteens.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar disposed of the PIL filed by a law student.

The petitioner had conducted a local investigation and videographed the ‘poor conditions’ of some Indira Canteens that had commenced without obtaining the necessary approvals as mandated in the statute.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Indira Canteens were not licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The counsel also informed the court that the canteens lacked basic infrastructure such as hand wash basin and drinking water.

After hearing the PIL, the bench asked to summon the BBMP representative and food and safety commissioner to verify the allegation.

Harshavardhan B , joint commissioner of food and safety, informed the court that all the valid licences had been obtained to run the canteens and the same have been displayed at the outlets.