The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, made the observations, when a PIL filed by Congress advocate A P Suryaprakasam came up for hearing on Monday. The PIL cited the state dairy development minister Rajendra Balaji’s statement last week that private milk producers indulged in adulteration, and that milk samples had been sent for laboratory tests. The PIL wanted the court to order CBI probe into the issue.
The bench also directed authorities to file a status report on the action taken on such complaints. The case was then adjourned to June 19 for further hearing.
The PIL said the government, which was duty-bound to safeguard the health and safety of citizens, should be taken to task for not discharging its statutory duties, as people are forced to take adulterated milk.
In this regard, the PIL said the minister himself had alleged that private milk firms were indeed using harmful chemicals in their milk. He had further alleged that only after thorough check of the packaged milk of private firms for more than five months that they were sent for lab tests.
Suryaprakasam prayed for a direction to the state government to take necessary steps urgently to amend Section 272 of IPC and to enhance punishment for milk adulterators to life imprisonment.
Source: Times of India
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/milk-adulteration-petition-in-hc-for-cbi-investigation/articleshow/59012311.cms
