Kerala HC stops production, sale of 'Aravana Prasadam' at Sabarimala
Kochi, Jan 11: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to not sell 'Aravana Prasadam' in Sabarimala as the cardamom used in the preparation contained pesticides beyond the minimum permissible limit (MRL).
The direction by a Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajithkumar came following detection of around 14 pesticides in the chemical analysis of the cardamom procured by the Board from a Kollam-based supplier.
The Government Analyst's Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram and accredited laboratory of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), after testing the cardamom, found it to be unsafe.
The cardamom was tested on a plea by a company Ayyappa Spices which had supplied the condiment to the TDB during the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season of 2021-22 and was aggrieved that the Board gave the contract for 2022-23 to a Kollam-based supplier "without competition and newspaper advertisement".
When the matter was heard during the day, the Board contended that in one 'kootu' (preparation) for the 'Aravana Prasadam', there are several ingredients like rice, jaggery, among others, of approximately 350 kg and the quantity of cardamom in it is only 720 gm.
It argued that as the end-product contained only a negligible quantity of cardamom and the prasadam is prepared at a temperature of above 200 degrees, presence of pesticides beyond MRL in the condiment would not make the sweet-dish unsafe for consumption.
The Bench, however, disagreed with the Board, saying that when the contract was to supply 15,000 kg of cardamom in terms of regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the condiment had to meet the standards.
"If the cardamom supplied by the Kollam-based company does not meet the MRL prescribed under the Regulations, it is unsafe as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as was found in the report dated January 10, 2023 of the Executive Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India," the court said.
It said once the condiment was found to be non-conforming to the standards laid down in the regulations, "the TDB cannot be permitted to sell Aravana Prasadam made using that cardamom to the devotees" even if in one kootu' the quantity of cardamom was only 720 gm and it was prepared at a temperature of above 200 degrees.
"Under such circumstances, there will be an interim order restraining the Travancore Devaswom Board from selling Aravana Prasadam to pilgrims.
"The Commissioner of Food Safety, through the Food Safety Officer at sannidhanam, shall take necessary steps to ensure that the Aravana Prasadam is not sold to pilgrims," the Bench ordered.
It, however, said that the Board can make the prasadam without cardamom or after procuring those which meet the standards upon obtaining a test report from the Government Analyst's Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram.
With the interim direction, the court listed the matter for further hearing on January 13.
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President Donald Trump to feature on limited edition US passports
Washington (PTI): The State Department is all set to unveil a limited-edition US passport with pictures of President Donald Trump and the Founding Fathers to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in July.
The special passports will be available only to those who show up in person at the Washington Passport Agency and not anywhere else across the country.
The Department of State shared images of the limited edition passports on its social media accounts.
One page of the passport carries Trump's image surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and the American flag along with the president's signature in gold.
Another page features the famous painting of the founding fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The passports, which are set to be released this summer, are part of the Trump administration’s broader "America250" celebration, which also includes a Grand Prix race on the National Mall in August and a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn in June.
"As the United States celebrates America's 250th anniversary in July, @StateDept is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed US Passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a post on X.
A State Department official told Fox News Digital that the new designs will be available for "any American citizen" who applies for a passport when the rollout happens and will continue for as long as there is availability.
“These passports will feature customised artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US Passport the most secure documents in the world,” Pigott said in a statement.
In October, the Department of Treasury proposed minting a one dollar coin featuring Trump’s image on it, to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
According to draft images confirmed as real by US Treasurer Brandon Beach, one side of the coin would feature Trump’s profile, along with the words “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776-2026.”
The other side of the coin would feature Trump standing with a clenched right fist in front of an American flag and the words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” — a reference to his chant after the 2024 assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
