UP to bring law to prevent food adulteration, mandate owner's name on signboard: CM Adityanath
Lucknow, Oct 15: The Uttar Pradesh government will soon introduce a new law against sellers who "hide their identity" and mix human waste or inedible material in food items and beverages, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday.
Imprisonment and fine will be ensured against those who violate the law and action should be taken considering such crimes as cognizable and non-bailable, the chief minister said, adding that sellers will be mandated to put up a signboard with their names at the establishment.
Adityanath, according to a statement, made the announcement during a meeting here to discuss the proposed new law to put a permanent stop to the incidents of adulteration of food items such as juice, dal and roti by mixing human waste or inedible material, recently reported in various parts of the country.
He said such incidents are "horrific" and have an adverse effect on social harmony and health of the consumers, according to the release.
"Such nefarious attempts cannot be accepted at all," he added.
Keeping in view the importance of ensuring the purity of food items and maintaining the confidence of consumers, it is necessary to make strict laws, Adityanath said, directing officers to prepare "clear" regulations to prevent such incidents in hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street food stalls.
Stating that every consumer has the right to get necessary information about the sellers of the food and beverages they consume, the chief minister said it should be mandatory for the establishment owners to put up a signboard with their names.
It should be mandatory for all the personnel working in the food establishment to wear an identity card and there should be a provision for the strictest punishment against those who use pseudonyms and give wrong information, the release said.
The chief minister said every food establishment should compulsorily install a sufficient number of CCTV cameras for continuous monitoring of the kitchen and dining areas. The footage for at least one month should be made available at all times on demand by the district administration, he added.
It should be made compulsory to cover the head, wear a mask and gloves while cooking food in the kitchen and serving it in the food establishment, the statement said.
The food business operator should provide the details of the personnel working in the establishment to the department concerned, Adityanath said, adding that if any person in the establishment is confirmed to be an intruder or an illegal foreign citizen, strict action should be taken against them.
Clear provisions should be made in the law in this regard, he directed officials.
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Sheena Bora case: Indrani Mukerjea moves SC, seeks permission to travel abroad
New Delhi, Nov 26: Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court ruling denying her to travel abroad.
A special court on July 19 allowed Mukerjea's plea to travel to Spain and the UK for 10 days between intermittent periods over the next three months.
The CBI approached the high court challenging the order passed by the special court but the high court quashed the special court order on September 27.
Mukerjea has now moved the apex court challenging the high court's verdict.
In her plea filed in the top court through advocate Sana Raees Khan, Mukerjea said she was a British citizen, and sought permission to visit Spain and her home country for "making necessary changes and amendments and taking care of pending work which cannot be transacted without her personal presence".
She argued the activation of a digital certificate was a must for all relevant work and administration in Spain and her physical presence was mandatory.
In its verdict, the high court noted Mukerjea wanted to travel abroad on the ground that she was a British national and was required to execute documents regarding her bank account and perform other work in Spain and the UK.
While setting aside the special court's order, the high court said if Mukerjea wished to perform these works from India, the statutory authorities back home would extend her the necessary support with the assistance of Embassy of Spain and the UK.
Mukerjea was arrested in August 2015 after the murder of Bora came to light. In May 2022, she was granted bail by the Supreme Court.
She has denied the allegations.
Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Mukerjea, her then-driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012 in Mumbai. Her body was then burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, according to the prosecution.
Bora was Mukerjea's daughter from her previous relationship.
The killing came to light in 2015 when Rai reportedly revealed about it during interrogation by police after his arrest in a separate case registered under the Arms Act.
Mukerjea's ex-husband Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy linked to the murder, probed by the CBI.
All the accused are currently out on bail.
