Jaipur : After the summer holidays, the work of Rajasthan High Court started on Monday i.e. 1st July. The High Court expressed concern over adulteration in food items. The High Court said that we are so busy in our daily chores that we do not take time to know about food. We do not even know whether what we are eating is safe or not.
Kidney and heart are affected due to adulteration
The High Court said that the government should pay serious attention to this. Adulteration affects organs like kidney, heart and liver, due to which people are becoming victims of malnutrition. Adulteration and poor quality food is a big challenge for the society. Cancer patients are increasing. After this, traders are selling food items by mixing cheap and poor quality things to earn more profit at low cost. 20% of the food items are being sold as adulterated or of unsafe quality. According to the survey of Food Safety and Standards Authority, 70% of milk is mixed with water.
Food Security Act-2006 is not enough to stop this
The High Court said that the Food Safety Act-2006 is not enough to stop this. Because, this law does not apply to the unorganized sector and hawkers etc. It applies only to processing. There are also less labs for sample testing. Due to lack of technology, the food authorities are not able to keep proper monitoring.
It is the government’s responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens
The central government is alert in this matter. The Health Ministry also prepared the Food Safety Standards Bill in 2020. It has been shelved. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the lives of citizens. Since this subject is in the concurrent list, the central and state governments should take steps to prevent adulteration by making effective laws.
20% of food items are being sold as adulterated or of unsafe quality
The court said that as per the records of the Health Ministry, 20% of the food items being sold are adulterated or of unsafe quality. As per the survey of Food Safety and Standards Authority, 70% of the milk contains water. There is also evidence of detergent being mixed in milk.
The High Court gave these instructions
State government should not limit the war campaign for Shuddha to festival or wedding season
To control and monitor adulteration, committees should be formed at the state level under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and at the district level under the chairmanship of Collectors.
The central and state governments should take steps to strengthen the Food Security Act, 2006
State food safety authorities should mark high risk areas and time for adulteration
Provide adequate equipment and resources to the lab
The numbers of other responsible officers including Food Security Officer and toll free numbers should be published on the websites of the Central and State Governments.
The High Court sought a reply from the Central Government’s Home, Health, Agriculture and Food Supply Ministry
The High Court has issued notices to the Central Government’s Home, Health, Agriculture and Food Supply Ministry, Food Safety and Standards Authority and the Chief Secretary of the state, Additional Chief Secretaries of Home, Food Safety and Health Department and others and sought their response. Apart from this, it has asked for regular sampling of food items and submitting the investigation report to the court at the end of every month and information about the steps taken to prevent adulteration.
A copy of the order was sent to the Health Ministry and the Chief Secretary
The High Court called upon all the senior advocates of Jodhpur and Jaipur, the President of the Bar Council, Vice President and other lawyers including the President of the High Court Bar Association to cooperate with the court. A copy has been sent to the Health Ministry and the Chief Secretary for compliance of the order.
