Madras HC orders action against sub-standard distilleries

The petitioner, while referring to a newspaper report, submitted that certain alcohol drinks do not conform to the prescribed standards.PTI | November 18, 2017, 14:40 IST

The Madras High Court today directed the officials concerned to take action against the distilleries which manufacture liquor without adhering to the Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave the direction on a public interest litigations (PIL) by one Sriraman seeking to take action on 16 distilleries for manufacturing, bottling and selling sub- standard liquor through state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation ( TASMAC) outlets.

"Action shall be taken in case contravention of any prescribed standards," the bench said.

The petitioner, while referring to a newspaper report, submitted that certain alcohol drinks do not conform to the prescribed standards.

There were dangerous levels of tartaric acid, volatile acid and other characteristics in some of the alcohol, he submitted and contended that the authorities failed to take care on the standards of the quality of the liquor sold at TASMAC outlets, he said.The bench ordered that notices be issued to distilleries and the government over the matter, which it posted for further hearing to December 12.

Madras High Court orders alcohol checks at distilleries across State

CHENNAI: Going by the Madras High Court verdict, even alcohol will be checked for purity. The court has directed officials of Food Safety to inspect the 16 distilleries in the state and take necessary action if required. The department can take action even if it does not match up to the standards of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave the direction when a PIL from V Sriraman came up for hearing, on Friday.

The PIL prayed for action against distilleries for manufacturing, bottling and selling spurious liquor through the TASMAC retail outlets.

“Authorities concerned shall inspect the distilleries concerned and ensure that the provisions of Food and Safety Standards Act 2006 are adhered to. Action shall be taken in case any contravention of any prescribed standards is found,” the bench said and issued notice to the distilleries and posted the matter for further hearing on November 22.

The petitioner, who himself was a victim, referred to a news item which stated that analysis of certain alcohol drinks doesn’t conform to standards. Certain items were maliciously certified by the Excise department supervisory officers and have been bottled for human consumption.

‘ALL ROADSIDE MEAT SHOPS IN CITY ILLEGAL’

Thousands of meat shops are operating in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines on roadsides in the State, including the capital city, and hence they should be closed forthwith.

Activists made this demand at a workshop held by the People for Animal-run ‘Concern for Ecology’ in association with the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation (FIAPO) here recently.

Members of food safety, BMC and some local animal welfare activists with veterinarians attended the workshop. The agenda behind the workshop was to make people aware of the procedure and laws to be followed for running food businesses that include selling of animal flesh. In October, a FIAPO team had investigated and submitted the complaints regarding illegal running of meat shops on roadsides to the BMC Commissioner. The workshop was held as a step towards protection of animals against cruelty and regularisation of meat shops. Members demanded that the BMC should ensure implementation of slaughterhouse rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, the Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2010, BIS standards, pollution control norms and municipal rules for registration and running of meat shops.

Violation of norms attract punishable with imprisonment for six months and fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. As per norms, animals should not be slaughtered except in recognised or licensed houses. No animal which is pregnant, or has an offspring less than three months old, or is under the age of three months or has not been certified by a veterinary doctor for slaughter can be slaughtered. The members suggested that slaughterhouses be constructed and licenced meat shops put there soon. Among others, LPT Department CVSC and AH Dr Prasad V Pati, Khurda SDVO Dr Saroj Kanungo, Retd SDVO Srimant Kumar Patro and adivisor Pradipta Tripathy were present.

59 illegal dairies:

Court expresses anguish over allotment of cattle pound to retired bureaucrat

Jammu, Nov 18: A Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice Bader Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Kumar have expressed deep displeasure over the allotment of a cattle pound situated at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu by the Jammu Municipal Corporation in favour of Ex-Joint Commissioner (Adm) Municipal Corporation Jammu namely R.S. Jamwal.

The Division Bench took serious view of the allotment made in favour of a Retired Officer of the Jammu Municipal Corporation for the land/space earmarked for cattle pound. The Division Bench after going through the records of allotment produced in the open court by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL directed the Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation to file a comprehensive affidavit explaining as to how and on whose orders the cattle pound at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu was closed and later allotted to the Joint Commissioner (Adm) Jammu Municipal Corporation.

These court directions were passed in a Public Interest Litigation filed by an NGO (SAVE) through its Chairperson Devinder Kour Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan seeking closure of 59 illegal/ unregistered milk dairies running within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation and also for regulating the functioning of existing 57 number of registered dairies as per the existing norms and guidelines issued by JMC under Section 44(n) of Jammu Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.

Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Suraj Singh and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the amended reply filed by JMC wherein it was submitted that JMC has one cattle pound situated at Dogra Hall, Jammu and capacity of the cattle pound is to accommodate 70/80 animals at a time. It was further submitted that all the Gowshalas running within and outside the limits of JMC have refused to adopt the animals due to non-availability of space and accordingly Deputy Commissioner, Jammu has been requested for identifying/providing land so that animals of the un-registered dairies are shifted till the time such unregistered dairies are regulated and managed as per the norms framed by JMC.

Advocate S.S. Ahmed appearing for the petitioner NGO submitted that in both the replies filed by JMC a misleading statement has been given that JMC has one cattle pound situated at Dogra Hall, Jammu when the fact remains there is one more cattle pound at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu which has been illegally/ arbitrarily closed by JMC and has been allotted vide order No.JMC/ RB/1053-55 dated 10-02-2016 in favour of R.S. Jamwal (KAS) Joint Commissioner (Adm) Municipal Corporation Jammu.

The Division Bench after going through the norms framed by JMC issued directions in the open court to the Commissioner JMC to take action as per the norms against the illegal diary units and further directed that licenses be issued to only those dairy units who conform to the norms framed by JMC. The Division Bench made it clear in its order that today’s order may not be construed by Commissioner JMC to grant licenses but the licenses be issued strictly as per the norms referred as Annexure-D in the PIL.

The Division Bench also directed Commissioner, JMC to file a comprehensive affidavit within four weeks about the action taken against un-registered dairies and also the action taken on the applications received by JMC from Dairy Units for grant of license. The Division Bench further directed the JMC to explore the possibilities of identifying new places for more cattle pounds in Jammu City. Advocate Amita Khajuria appearing for the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, New Delhi apprised the Division Bench that a comprehensive reply to the PIL has been filed and Govt. Advocate Sanjeev Padha also informed the Division Bench about the filing of reply on behalf of Commissioner of Food Safety, J&K Government. Senior Advocate M.K. Bhardwaj with Advocates Ajay Vaid and Gagan Kohli appeared on behalf of the owners of 59 un-registered dairy units whereas AAG Rohit Kapoor caused appearance for State Pollution Control Board.

AAG Rohit Kapoor appearing for State Pollution Control Board assured the Division Bench that while issuing NOCs to the owners of the dairy units the norms governing the field and also the norms prescribed by JMC will be strictly adhered to and there will be no laxity in this behalf on the part of PCB. He further requested the Division Bench that a copy of the PIL be furnished to him and upon this Advocate S.S. Ahmed assured to provide the same during the course of the day.

The Division Bench looking into the importance of the PIL directed the Registry to re-notify the same on December, 21, 2017.

Food Safety dept orders closure of hostel canteen

Lack of licence, unhygienic conditions cited

KOCHI: The Food Safety Department has issued a notice to authorities of St. Teresa’s College here, asking them to close down the hostel canteen based on its findings that it had no requisite licence, besides failing to ensure the quality norms.

Officials said that an inspection held last month had found that the canteen was functioning without obtaining the licence of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The hostel authorities also failed to produce the medical fitness certificate of the canteen staff. They could not also submit documents proving the quality of water used in the canteen, they said. The action was taken based on a complaint received by the FSSAI in which it was alleged that there were at least three instances of food poisoning in the hostel mess over the past three months and that the food was being prepared under unhygienic conditions.

Steps to ensure safe food for pilgrims

Health Minister K.K.Shylaja launching the mobile laboratory of the Food Safety Department at Nilackal on Thursday. 

Minister inaugurates mobile food analysis laboratory at Nilackal

The government has taken every possible step to ensure the safety of food articles supplied to pilgrims at Sabarimala and various transit camps during the ongoing pilgrim season, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja has said.

The Minister was inaugurating a mobile food analysis laboratory of the Health Department at Nilackal, near Pampa, on Thursday afternoon.

She said the department had set up laboratories, including two mobile ones, to test the quality of food items at Sabarimala, Pampa, Nilackal and Erumely. Sixty food safety officers, including assistant commissioners, have been deployed to conduct periodic inspections at hotels and other eateries.

The department has taken steps to conduct periodic quality analysis of the drinking water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority, Travancore Devaswom Board and the Ayyappa Seva Sanghom.

All raw materials for the preparation of Aravana, Appam and Annadanam are being subjected to thorough quality tests at the laboratory at Pampa before being taken to the Sannidhanam. No raw material could be taken to the Sannidhanam without obtaining food safety clearance from the Pampa laboratory. Food safety officers would ensure the quality of the Aravana and Appam before taking it to the sales counters at the Sannidhanam.

Presiding over the function, Food Safety Commissioner Veena N.Madhavan said devotees were free to contact the Food Safety Department through two toll-free numbers (8592999666 & 18004251125).

Director of Health Services Saritha, Joint Director of Food Safety Department K.Anilkumar, Assistant Director Preetha, chief government analyst Thankachan, and research officer G.Gopakumar spoke.