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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Washington, Oct 31: Sending Diwali greetings, former president Donald Trump, who is the Republican presidential candidate, on Thursday condemned the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh, vowed to strengthen ties with India and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his good friend.
Bangladesh, he said, remains in a total state of chaos and alleged that his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris and her boss President Joe Biden have ignored Hindus across the world and in America.
“I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
This is for the first time that Trump has spoken on the issue of Bangladesh. Hundreds of Hindus were killed in July-August in Bangladesh when a students’ agitation turned into massive protests leading to then prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country on August 5.
“It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America. They have been a disaster from Israel to Ukraine to our own Southern Border, but we will Make America Strong Again and bring back Peace through Strength,” he said.
“We will also protect Hindu Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left. We will fight for your freedom. Under my administration, we will also strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi,” Trump said.
“Kamala Harris will destroy your small businesses with more regulations and higher taxes. By contrast, I cut taxes, cut regulations, unleashed American energy, and built the greatest economy in history. We will do it again, bigger and better than ever before and we will Make America Great Again,” he said.
“Also, Happy Diwali to All. I hope the Festival of Lights leads to the Victory of Good over Evil,” said the former president, who is in a close fight with Harris for the November 5 presidential elections.