Lists matter for hearing on September 3
Srinagar: Terming the “rampant” sale of rotten meat and other unregulated food items in Kashmir as a very sensitive matter, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Monday appointed Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie as Amicus Curiae in the concerned public interest litigation (PIL) filed past week.
Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal heard the PIL and observed that the issue of “rampant” sale of rotten meat, poultry, and other unregulated food items is a “very sensitive matter” having grave public health implications.
The bench appointed senior advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie as Amicus Curiae to assist the court in the matter.
Advocate Shafqat Nazir appeared on behalf of the petitioner, advocate Mir Umar, and the respondent authorities were represented by senior additional advocate general, Mohsin Qadri, deputy advocate generals, Hakim Aman Ali and Bikramdeep Singh, along with government advocate Waseem Gul.
They submitted before the court that the government’s response in the matter is ready and would be filed instantly.
Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed the matter be listed on September 3, 2025 for further hearing.
The PIL has sought urgent judicial intervention to curb the circulation of unhygienic, unsafe, and rotten food products in Kashmir markets, arguing that unchecked sale of such items poses a direct threat to public health and reflects administrative failure in enforcing food safety laws.
It read “despite large-scale seizure of rotten meat in Kashmir, the responsible authorities have failed to take effective and sustained action to prevent the menace”.
Asking for an exigent judicial intervention to address “the serious and ongoing public health crisis in the erstwhile state, particularly Kashmir Valley”, it said “the crisis stems from the widespread transportation, sale and distribution of rotten, unhygienic, and unsafe meat and poultry products that enter the Union Territory without mandatory veterinary health certification or public health inspection”.
It stated that such unsafe food items pose a grave threat to the lives and health of thousands of unsuspecting consumers. It exposes them to potentially fatal diseases including food poisoning, salmonella, E. coli contamination, and other zoonotic infections.
The petitioner asserted “despite repeated seizures and media reports highlighting the problem, responsible authorities have failed to take effective, sustained action to prevent the menace”.
The petition explained “this inaction constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to life ….and the State’s constitutional duty under Article 47 to improve public health and nutrition is being undermined by this neglect”.
The petition filed in public interest sought “enforcement of food safety laws, accountability of authorities, and directions for the establishment of stringent preventive and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that only safe, hygienic meat and poultry products are permitted for sale in the Union Territory”.
It referred to the recent seizure by enforcement agencies “of spoiled and decaying meat and poultry from various markets, hotels, roadside eateries, and retail meat shops across the Kashmir Valley”.
It also cited reports of rotten meat and poultry being transported into Jammu and Kashmir from different parts of India in unhygienic conditions, without cold-chain facilities, and without requisite certification by authorised veterinary officers.
