Srinagar: In the PIL regarding sale of rotten meat in Kashmir, the High Court on Thursday directed the Inspectors General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Kashmir provinces and the Commissioner Food Safety to ensure that no unsafe meat is allowed to enter and sold within the Union Territory.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, while hearing the PIL issued a series of directions aimed at curbing the menace.
The court impleaded several top-ranking officials as party respondents, including Commissioner Secretary Animal Husbandry; Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development; Commissioners of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Jammu Municipal Corporation, Commissioner Sales Tax besides IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu.
It “instructed” the IGPs of Jammu and Kashmir provinces and the Commissioner, Food Safety to ensure that no unsafe meat is allowed to enter or be sold within the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
It directed the concerned officers to file their responses by September 10, the next date of hearing.
Senior Advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie, who is Amicus Curiae in the case, while as advocate Shafqat Nazir appearing for petitioner advocate Mir Umar, were present in the court during the proceedings of the PIL.
The court expressed displeasure over the failure of the Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to submit their replies so far. The bench sternly warned that if the replies are not filed before the next hearing, the concerned officers must appear in person before the Court.
The court reiterated sensitivity about the matter and also took note of the newspaper reports regarding seizure of 21 quintal of synthetic cheese and expired oil and directed the respondents to file their reply on the matter.
The PIL filed in August after media reports of entry and sale of rotten meat in Kashmir alleges lack of action and administrative failures in enforcing food safety laws and regulations, leading to the circulation of unsafe food products.
It said that unchecked sale of unhygienic and rotten meat and other food items poses a direct threat to public health, and that it was evident that the practice of smuggling rotten, diseased, and unhygienic poultry and meat products has been prevalent for many years.
“However, despite the issuance of directions, the concerned authorities failed to take any concrete or pre-emptive measures to curb such unlawful and unethical practices,” said the petition.
It held that the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Acts applicable to Srinagar and Jammu specifically provide for the establishment and regulation of slaughterhouses in these cities, subject to strict inspection and supervision.
“However, it is a matter of common public knowledge that no functional slaughterhouse presently exists either in Srinagar or in Jammu,” read the petition, adding, “consequently, all kinds of meat enter the market without undergoing any form of mandatory inspection or quality regulation.”
