Selling adulterated food to be non-bailable offense in Rajasthan; law amendment soon

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government will make the existing law against selling adulterated edible items more stringent. Taking a cue from Maharashtra government, the Rajasthan government will amend IPC sections 272 and 273 and book traders selling adulterated food items under non-bailable. Currently, the people involved in adulteration go scot-free even after they are caught because this is a bailable offense.

Sources said that the amendment bill may be tabled in the assembly during the next budget session. The government has already set up a committee under the supervision of additional chief secretary (medical and health) Rohit Kumar Singh. The committee will study the amendments introduced by the Maharashtra government and its impact.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot had recently announced that the government is planning to make the law against adulterators more stringent.

“There should be an element of fear. The adulterators play with the health of innocent people. They won’t be spared,” Gehlot said.

In Maharashtra, a person found guilty of adulteration can be sentenced to life imprisonment.

A report recently released by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India revealed of the 760 samples taken during 2018-19, as many as 208 were found unsafe.