J&K HC Takes Note Of Rotten Meat PIL, Seeks Govt Reply

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- The practice of“smuggling” rotten, diseased, and unhygienic poultry and meat products into Jammu & Kashmir, particularly the Kashmir Valley, has been prevalent for many years, petitioner of Public Interest Litigation said in a supplementary affidavit filed before the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Monday.

While taking the supplementary affidavit on record, a bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal also appointed Senior Advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie as Amicus Curiae in the PIL, observing that the matter was serious. The Bench also granted authorities time to file response to the PIL, filed by a practicing lawyer Mir Umar, last week and listed it for further consideration on September 3.

In the supplementary affidavit, the petitioner through advocate Shafqat Nazir, has referred to an order (No. DIVCOM/Dev/2017-525-32) on 15 April 2017 by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir regarding the clandestine transportation of dressed poultry birds with false labels packed in ice boxes.

By virtue of the order, he said, a complete ban was imposed on the import of such dressed poultry birds into the Valley.

“The concerned departments, namely the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, the Department of Commercial Taxes, the Department of Animal Husbandry, and the Department of Legal Metrology, were directed to take immediate steps to check fish boxes at the entry points into the Valley and to confiscate/destroy any poultry being smuggled under the guise of fish consignments,” the petitioner said, adding,“The said order further directed the concerned departments to undertake market inspections across the Valley to eradicate the menace of smuggling and circulation of such hazardous meat.”

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He said 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,” he said, adding,“It is pertinent to mention that the order dated 15.04.2017 passed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, came to be challenged before this Court by way of OWP No. 532/2017, wherein, vide interim order dated 29.04.2017, the operation of the said order was stayed.”

Subsequently, he said, the petition itself came to be dismissed by the High Court vide order on 17 February 2025 for non-prosecution.

He said the UT Government has also exhibited gross negligence in filling up crucial posts of Food Safety Officers across Jammu & Kashmir.

“As per information available to the petitioner, against the sanctioned strength of 166 posts, only 56 Food Inspectors/Food Safety Officers are presently in position in the Department,” he said, adding,“As if this acute shortfall in manpower was not enough, the Department has also been left handicapped without necessary infrastructure such as inspection vehicles, field samplers, field workers, and Data Entry Operators.”

He said that the“alarming” lack of manpower and resources has rendered the Department incapable of effectively implementing the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, thereby“compromising public health.”

He said 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,” he said, adding,“Consequently, all kinds of meat enter the market without undergoing any form of mandatory inspection or quality regulation.”

FDA To Publish Violators' List Soon

As the people await violators to be held accountable and face public scrutiny for selling rotten meat and other food products the much-awaited list is set to be made public within the next few days.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified raids in Jammu and Kashmir, seizing 12,000 kg of meat, 21 quintals of synthetic cheese, and 440 quintals of Rasgulla ahead of the festival season.

Smita Sethi, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K said inspections are ongoing.

“Yesterday, a big raid was carried out in Jammu. Today, around 100 kg of synthetic cheese was seized, bringing the total seized products to 12,000 kg of meat, 21 quintals of cheese, and 440 quintals of Rasgulla,” she said.

She added that the Rasgulla's were expired, torn, kept in cold storage in tins without packaging or labeling, and likely to flood markets.“They had no proper storage solution, so we destroyed them,” Sethi said.

On the meat supply chain and its movement to the Valley, she said it appears to be 'smuggled'.“Yesterday's cheese seizure came through railways after a tip-off from Railway Police. Rotten and expired oil in 78 tins was also recovered,” she said.

Commissioner Sethi added that the seized meat lacked proper storage conditions.“The owners have not disclosed the source. Some consignments have names associated, and we are trying to establish links, especially regarding the cheese,” she said.

She confirmed that investigations are progressing, and a“list of violators, including license details, will be published within a few days.”

Regarding food testing, Sethi said 12 reports have been received - four unsafe, four standard, and four in bad condition and unfit for consumption.“Unsafe samples contained only synthetic colors; no major harmful elements, viral or cancer-causing agents, were found,” she clarified.

The Commissioner assured that strict enforcement will continue to safeguard consumers across Jammu and Kashmir, with drives ongoing throughout the Union Territory. Notably, J&K FDA earlier ordered strict compliance with FSSAI rules for the sale of frozen meat and chicken products.

“Violators face fines up to Rs 10 lakh, seizure of stock, license cancellation, and even six years' imprisonment under the Food Safety Act,” said an official. –(With inputs from KN0)

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