Rs 3.04 crore penalty imposed in 2,191 food adulteration cases: Punjab to HC

Punjab has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it imposed penalties totalling Rs 3.04 crore in 2,191 food adulteration cases decided between January 2019 and December 2024, most of which involved milk and dairy products.

The data was placed on record through an affidavit filed by Under Secretary Ram Ishwar, Department of Health and Family Welfare, in compliance with the high court’s July 22 direction to both Punjab and Haryana to submit details of penalties imposed in such cases over the last five years.

The case has its genesis in a public interest litigation filed by advocate Sunaina on adulteration in milk and milk products across the State. The affidavit said penalties were imposed in about 95 per cent of the decided cases.

The affidavit recorded adulteration in a wide spectrum of food items, ranging from cow and buffalo milk, curd, paneer, khoya, desi ghee and butter to milk-based sweets such as burfi, rasgullas and milk cake, besides products like biscuits, namkeen, ice cream, haldi powder, red chilli powder, rose squash and edible oils.

The PIL seeks court directions for the establishment of additional food-testing laboratories, extensive public awareness campaigns, and harsher penalties for repeat offenders. It also presses for strict enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, arguing that adulteration of milk and dairy products directly violates the right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution.