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The state government of Maharashtra has recently declared the food adulteration as a non-bailable and a cognizable offence in the state through an amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. The amendment came into effect in the last week and the officials of the government have stated that it is primarily aimed at curbing milk adulteration. The government has given power to the Maharashtra police to arrest anyone on suspicion, under this amendment.
According to a renowned advocate and the former joint commissioner of the state FDA, Mr. SW Deshpande, "The amendment is to help the state curb milk adulteration. Section 20 of the central legislation makes food adulteration a bailable and a non-cognizable offence but the amendment in Maharashtra has made it a cognizable offence. While earlier, a court could take cognizance only after a food inspectors complaint with the consent of the appropriate authority, now police have powers to make arrests even on the basis of information". He further said that the police can start an investigation straight away after receiving any information regarding food adulteration.
When contacted, the officials of the state government of Maharashtra informed that the government carried out the amendment in the last year after a huge number of complaints of milk adulteration were filed within a very short period. According to the estimate of the Food and Drug Administration Department, 25 per cent milk sold in the state last year was unfit for human consumption. However, Mr. Deshpande also said that there is certain possibility for the amendment to be misused and stated that the civil societys general view is not to involve police in this issue, when there are special agencies present to deal with food and drug adulteration. While defending this allegation and also explaining the main reason behind the amendment, one of the top officials from the Maharashtra government said that though the police had the powers to arrest food adulterators even without the amendment, there was ambiguity as culprits could get away saying it was a non-cognizable offence. He said that that is why they made the amendment to remove this ambiguity.
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| Posted : 1/30/2008 |
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