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2017 DIGILAW 2345 (RAJ)

Manoj Kumar son of Shri Chiranjeevlal v. State of Rajasthan

2017-11-01

PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI

body2017
ORDER : PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI, J. 1. Petitioner has preferred this misc. petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C for quashing of proceedings in Criminal Original Case No. 63/2011 pending before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaisalmer for the offence under Section 7/16 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. 2. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioner states that the proceedings under the current law was not permissible as the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 came into force on 28.03.2008 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has referred to the judgment of Pepsico India Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. v. State of U.P Delivered by Hon'ble Allahabad High Court (Writ Petition No. 8254/2010 decided on 08.09.2010), relevant portion shown by the petitioner, reads as under:— “44. In view of the aforesaid crystal clear legal proposition and particular provisions under the FSSA we are in agreement with the arguments advanced by the petitioner-s Counsel that for adulteration of food or misbranding, after coming into force of the provisions of FSSA vide notification dated 29th July, 2010, the authorities can take action only under the FSSA as it postulates an overriding effects over all other food related laws including the PFA Act. In view of the specific provisions under the FSSA, the offences relating to adulteration of food that are governed under the FSSA after July 29, 2010 are to be treated as per the procedures to be followed for drawing and analysis of samples as have been provided for. The provisions of penalties and prosecution have also been provided therein. Therefore, before launching any prosecution against all alleged offence of food adulteration. It is necessary for the concerned authorities to follow the mandatory requirements as provided under Sections 41 and 42 of the FSSA and, therefore, the police have no authority or jurisdiction to investigate the matter under FSSA. Section 42 empowers the Food Safety Officer for inspection of food business, drawing samples and sending them to Food Analyst for analysis. The Designated Officer, after scrutiny of the report of Food Analyst shall decide as to whether the contravention is punishable with imprisonment or fine only and in the case of contravention punishable with imprisonment, he shall send his recommendations to the Commissioner of Food Safety for sanctioning prosecution. The Designated Officer, after scrutiny of the report of Food Analyst shall decide as to whether the contravention is punishable with imprisonment or fine only and in the case of contravention punishable with imprisonment, he shall send his recommendations to the Commissioner of Food Safety for sanctioning prosecution. Therefore, invoking Sections 272 and 273 of the Indian Penal Code in the matter relating to adulteration of food pursuant to the impugned Government order is wholly unjustified and non est. furthermore, it appears that the impugned Government Order has been issued without application of proper mind and examining the matter minutely and thus the State Government travelled beyond the jurisdiction.” 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has stated that Para 32 of the judgment of the State of U.P has accepted the repealing of the earlier act by virtue of Section 97(1) coming into force on 29.07.2010 5. Learned Public Prosecutor has, however refuted that the basic averment of the petitioner is not in accordance with law as the notification itself was issued only on 25.07.2011 by the State of Rajasthan for final implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and the Rules of 2011 by the Government of India. Learned Public Prosecutor has also stated that once the Act itself was of the year 2010 and was not finally accepted by the State of Rajasthan, therefore, the precedent law shall not apply in the present case. Learned Public Prosecutor has submitted that even if the Section 97(1) was to come into force with the statutory force was given by the State of Rajasthan, which is subsequent date in the year 2011 on 05.08.2011 whereas the sample were all taken before 05.10.2011 6. After hearing counsel for the parties and perusing the record of the case as well as precedent law cited at Bar, this Court is of the opinion that the State of Rajasthan has not accepted the repealing or the main act and the same came into force as per the Gazetted notification issued 25.07.2011 It is also clear that all sample in the petitions have been taken prior to 05.08.2011 and therefore, the analogy drawn in the precedent law is not applicable in the present case. 7. In light of the aforesaid observations, this misc. petition is dismissed.