Sale of unhygienic meat in J&K: HC miffed over tardy approach

Srinagar, Sep 10: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Tuesday expressed its dismay over the government’s "tardy approach" to deal with rampant sale, storage of unhygienic and unsafe meat and other food items in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the court is seeking judicial intervention to curb the sale, storage, distribution, and transportation of unhygienic meat and other poultry, and fish products within Jammu and Kashmir.

The PIL has been filed by Advocate Mir Umer through his Counsel Shafqat Nazir, Advocate. Miffed over the government’s "dilatory action" to curb the sale of unhygienic meat, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal called for a roadmap for an everlasting solution to the menace.

The benches’ observation came after senior advocate Jahangir Iqbal Ganai as “amicus curiae” pointed out that the replies filed by the authorities were “cosmetic” as no concrete efforts had been demonstrated on the ground to deal with the issue. “Sermons won’t serve any purpose; the point is the implementation of things on ground and for that strenuous efforts are required,” the amicus said.

“There may be officers who will do nothing, but you as amicus file your response in writing and also give us a complete road map that will provide an everlasting solution to the menace,” the bench observed in response to the submissions.

The government through its senior additional advocate general Mohsin Qadri informed the court that he was in receipt of a communication indicating that Inspector Generals of police (IGs P) of Jammu and Kashmir would be conducting meetings with respective Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates to formulate flying squads to ensure complete ban on unsafe meat and other edibles.

To this, the amicus said the endeavours of the IGsP are appreciable for issuing directions to police stations to take actions against sale of unhygienic meat and other products.

The chief justice observed that under the Food Safety Act and Municipal Corporation Act, if the designated officers had performed their statutory duties, there was no need for the petitioner to knock at the doors of the judiciary. However, the Additional Advocate General admitted that Municipal health inspectors, who are entrusted with food safety checks, are instead functioning merely as “Khilaf Warzi Officers.”

“The people of this place don’t deserve to suffer from such a menace of unhygienic and unsafe food,” the court observed, adding, "the authorities must take strict action ‘come what may’”.

In the PIL, the petitioner seeks 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 J&K, thereby protecting public health and upholding constitutional guarantees. In Jammu & Kashmir, meat and poultry consumption is predominantly by the Muslim majority population, for whom adherence to “Halal" dietary principles is not merely a preference but a religious obligation, says the PIL.

“Given this demographic reality, Halal certification of all meat and poultry products is not just desirable, but necessary to safeguard religious rights, public health, and consumer trust,” it says. The PIL seeks to ensure that meat and poultry intended for Muslim consumers is compulsorily Halal-certified, and the meat processed through other methods (including Jhatka) is appropriately labelled, so that consumers are fully informed and able to exercise their choice.