Supreme Court can direct President to act, says Justice Chelameswar
Chennai: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar asserted that the apex court has the constitutional authority to issue directions to the President of India, similar to its power to review laws enacted by Parliament.
Delivering the Rakesh Endowment Lecture on the theme ‘The 75th Year of the Constitution’ on Saturday, Justice Chelameswar defended the Supreme Court’s recent directive requiring the President and governors to grant assent to state legislation within a stipulated time frame. He emphasised that the judiciary’s role in reviewing laws extends to issuing binding instructions to constitutional authorities.
“We have accepted that the judiciary can determine whether a law is constitutional. To say that it cannot direct a constitutional office-holder like the President to act would be constitutionally doubtful,” he remarked, in response to a question from former Madras High Court judge Justice C.T. Selvam. The question had referenced recent comments by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who questioned the Court’s authority to issue such directives.
Justice Chelameswar noted that much of the controversy could have been avoided had the Supreme Court directed the Union Government to offer appropriate advice to the President regarding assent to bills. “The President acts on the aid and advice of the Union Cabinet. Had the Court directed the Union Government to advise the President within three months, there would have been no objection,” he said.
On the issue of conflicting Central and State laws, the former judge elaborated on Article 254 of the Constitution, noting that a state law can prevail if it receives presidential assent. “If the President refuses assent, what recourse does one have?” he questioned, highlighting the critical role of the President’s discretion in maintaining federal balance.
Responding to another query by Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court regarding the current direction of India’s constitutional journey, Justice Chelameswar observed, “It is a long march. There is no overnight solution.”
The lecture was held in Chennai and was organised by the Rakesh Endowment Foundation in association with the Roja Muthiah Research Library, marking the birth anniversary of Rakesh Ranganathan, late son of senior advocate and DMK Rajya Sabha MP, N.R. Elango.
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Eggs safe for consumption, cancer risk claims unfounded: FSSAI
New Delhi (PTI): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent claims linking eggs to cancer risk, terming them "misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm".
In a statement issued on Saturday, the food safety regulator clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis.
The clarification comes in response to media reports and social media posts claiming detection of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ) -- substances purportedly linked to cancer -- in eggs sold in India.
FSSAI officials emphasised that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
The regulator explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites -- but solely for regulatory enforcement purposes. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.
"Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk," an FSSAI official said.
FSSAI said India's regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. The European Union and the United States also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools.
Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, the authority noted.
On public health concerns, FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that there is no established causal link between trace-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humans.
"No national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk," the regulator reiterated.
Addressing reports related to the testing of a specific egg brand, officials explained that such detections are isolated and batch-specific, often arising from inadvertent contamination or feed-related factors, and are not representative of the overall egg supply chain in the country.
"Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect," the statement said.
FSSAI urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories, reiterating that eggs remain a safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.
