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Denis Giles

10 July 2014

Created: 10 July 2014

Last Updated: 10 July 2014

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It is the fundamental right under Article 14 of the Constitution that, the State shall not deny to any person equality before Law or equal protection of the Laws within the Territory of India. "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" which is the principle so fundamental to our criminal jurisprudence. Need to protect Good Traders Who do Fair Trade Practices.

The Administration needs to appoint all Statutory Functionaries, on a Whole Time Basis who are properly and efficiently trained and has to maintain a system control to regulate the Food Trade and ensure safe food for human consumption.

News was published in the Daily Telegrams on 08.07.2014, by the Commissioner Food Safety that The Food Safety Department is regularly carrying out inspection of all food business establishments including petty shops and street food vendors. During the inspection, it was observed that some tea stall operators are using adulterated/artificially coloured tea leaves/tea dusts for preparing tea. Artificially coloured tea is injurious to health and sale of such tea is prohibited under FSS Act, 2006. During this year till the month of May, artificially coloured tea leaves were seized from 32 tea vending premises and a sum of Rs.21000/- has been recovered as fine by compounding the offence.

However the question is how the officials have compounded the offences without corroborative evidence of a Notified Food Laboratory and the analytical reports done properly qualified / notified Food Analyst who have been appointed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

In the present case the Commissioner Food Safety, Food Safety officers and designated officers have done critical errors after sampling, who have probably no knowledge about the prosecution procedures or have been ill trained.

1.    They have by-passed the "prosecution procedure" as defined under section 42 and 42 (2) and straightway produced the traders, before the Designated officers for compounding.

2.    As per the sec 42 (2) immediately after proper sampling, the Food Safety Officer had to send the samples to the Food Analyst and only with a report they can produce before the Designated Officer or Adjudication Officer or before a Court, but they have cleverly bypassed the section 42 (2) and the Designated also illegally compounded the offences under section 69 of the FSS Act without taking due consideration of section 49.

3.    Wherein it was his duty to of the Designated Officer or Adjudication Officer to logically conclude, whether the offence is quantifiable (with proven evidence: here only Food Analyst report) / or not and any unfair advantage obtained in the trade and it was his duty to see that the Food safety officer properly followed the procedure for launching prosecution as per section 42, which have been totally neglected, willfully or ignorantly by the Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers; but the losers are the innocent Traders who do not have knowledge of prosecution procedures under Food Safety Act and consequently they have been denied the Principal of Natural Justice and Equality before Law.

4.    It is the fundamental right under Article 14 of the Constitution that, the State shall not deny to any person equality before Law or equal protection of the Laws within the Territory of India. It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer which is the principle so fundamental to our criminal jurisprudence.

5.    It is also well know that the Post of the Food Analyst is lying vacant since 20 years under the Director of Health Services and without the documentary proof of adulteration the Commissioner Food safety cannot compound offence, on a mere speculation or with coercion, the Food vendor may accept adulterations. Under the Food Safety Act the Laboratory report is the first and foremost requirement to proceed with prosecution. The very act of the Commissioner Food Safety and his officers lack of sense to give natural justice and equality before Law as enshrined in our constitution is questionable.

In the Judgment on WP (PIL) No: 640/2012, the Port Blair bench of Calcutta High Court on 5^th June 2014, held that there is no proper authority appointed under the Food Safety and Standards Act in A&N Islands that means all the authorities from Commissioner Food Safety to Food Safety Officers are improper and hence the Administration is required to appoint proper and efficient statutory functionaries without any further delay.

Moreover the Supreme Court in its Judgment on 22^nd October 2013 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 681 of 2004 on Food Safety Act held that "We are, therefore, of the view that the provisions of the FSS Act and PFA Act and the rules and regulations framed there under have to be interpreted and applied in the light of the Constitutional Principles" ... The main purpose of this programme is to protect the health of consumers, ensure fair practices in the food trade, and promote coordination of all food standards work... Authorities are also obliged to maintain a system of control and other activities as appropriate to the circumstances, including public communication on food safety and risk, food safety surveillance and other monitoring activities covering all stages of food business..."We, therefore, direct the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India, to gear up their resources with their counterparts in all the States and Union Territories and conduct periodical inspections and monitoring of major fruits and vegetable markets, so as to ascertain whether they conform to such standards set by the Act and the Rules."............. "Penal provisions are also provided in the Act.

It is, therefore, of utmost importance that the provisions of the Acts are properly and effectively implemented so that the State can achieve an appropriate level of human life and health, safeguarding the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India..." The Writ Petition is disposed of with the above directions, leaving its respondents, as already indicated, to strictly follow the provisions of the FSS Act as well as the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder.

Dinanath

Phoenix Bay

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Denis Giles

19 January 2014

Created: 19 January 2014

Last Updated: 19 January 2014

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Under the Food Safety Act Rules and Regulation all eateries including Hospital Kitchen, Hostel Kitchen, Temples, Churches  etc. wherever Food is served  to masses has to be registered even if the Food is served free of cost, this is to ensure that these places also is certified under the Food Safety Act. But why the government establishments are left out and only insisting for Private firms. By ensuring Food Safety compliance the Hospital Kitchen also needs to ensure the minimum criteria that any one has to do, so that the patients also get safe food.

Last year food poisoning at Bakultala Panchayat sweet distribution during 26^th Jan 2013 was without Food Safety Registration. Now it is to be seen that at all places wherever sweet is distributed during the 26^th Jan Republic Day function, the Food Safety department needs to ensure that the department is buying genuine food from licensed or registered premises and samples needs to be collected before sweets are distributed !!!!!

B. Kumar

Rangat

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Denis Giles

12 May 2014

Created: 12 May 2014

Last Updated: 12 May 2014

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Divyum Talkies at Prathrapore the lone cinema theatre with its splendidly designed complex in the islands which has two cine halls Priyam and Diviyum, each with seating capacity of 110 and 108 respectively screens latest Bollywood, Hollywood and regional movies daily in the complex.

Historically, before India acquired independence, British government imposed heavy taxes on the events of amusements and entertainment. After independence, old enactments continued and there has been no revision or repeal of these acts. Movie tickets, large commercial shows and large private festival celebrations may incur an entertainment tax. Entertainment tax structure in India varies across states and is the highest in Uttar Pradesh at 60 per cent. In Maharashtra, entertainment tax was reduced by five per cent in 2005.There is no tax for Tamil films in Tamil Nadu or for Marathi films in Maharashtra. Some states give a five-year tax exemption to single-screen theatres under municipal councils and a seven-year exemption in rural areas. In Tamil Nadu according to the new guidelines it is not just enough that a film has Tamil titles. A film must not have too much of adult stuff & blood and violence should be very limited. Films seeking entertainment has exemption must also have a story crux that does not delineate form the Tamil culture, a movie will be eligible for tax exemption only when all these condition are satisfied. In March 2011, Rajasthan become the first state to exempt theatres from entertainment tax the state government has set new rules for films seeks entertainment tax waiver,

There is also a provision to grant tax exemption to films which have received National & International awards. Entertainment shows organised to promote the cause of education, philanthropy and sports are also granted tax exemptions.

A committee consisting of Chief Secretary, Deputy Commissioner, Secretaries of tourism and finance departments, if formed can  grant liberal exemptions, and the theatre owner  can apply  for tax exemption to the administration for  films which have received National or International awards and wait for a positive outcome in the near future. The tax benefits therefore should be passed on to the cinema goers. School children can block the entire hall where in some educational film can be shown to them, now the rate per ticket is Rs 160/- and 15% entertainment tax waiver means for a family of five persons 24 X 5 =120, this will reduce the price drastically which will immensely benefit the poor sections of the society, and adolescents who frequently hang out in bars after sunset.

- Dr. Dinesh

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Denis Giles

16 December 2013

Created: 16 December 2013

Last Updated: 16 December 2013

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Coming to understand the facts our islands by keenly observing the situation prevailing, I am forced to realise that in our Islands the mindset of people has been altered in such a way that it is presumed, the only way of getting things done through govt. officials is ‘bribe’.

Here is one officer & her team who proactively approached public & with complaints acted upon individuals who indulged in corrupt practices, under the prevailing norms. They were duly arrested for their offence.

Yes, I’m talking about the talk of the town, Mrs Aslam Khan, IPS officer, SP (ACU). She and her team methodically tried to address by being active in the best possible means of social media and urging public to inform & complain about the corrupt practices.

The general public informed and the team cracked on corruption at various parts of our isles. Considering this in background, it was very optimistic especially at the outset when our current LG AK Singh took over the constitutional post for our isles. The post of Lt. Governor of A&N Islands is the single most powerful unelected post across country. A Lt. Governor with good intentions can change the situation of the islands, being the Administrator himself.

Soon after joining as the Lt. Governor and the Administrator, one of the first promises the LG AK Singh made was to challenge “corruption” prevailing in our isles, as quoted on August 15^th at historic Netaji stadium “Will strive to promote a responsive, effective and transparent Administration to the Islanders, with a zero tolerance towards corruption” but unfortunately the action has been opposite. Within few months of taking of the Anti-corruption unit (ACU), this brave officer has been transferred to Police Training School.

Now the question that arises in my mind is, either go down challenging the “status-quo” or to overcome the “status-quo”.

Thanks Mrs Aslam Khan & team for doing your bit in challenging this status-quo. Your team has the highest sympathy from the islanders for giving your best and ultimately succumbing to the pressure from certain corners.

Yasir MB, UAE