The Supreme Court of India has reserved its order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the constitution of a specialised National Task Force to oversee the enforcement activities of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
According to the reports, the petitioner said the current enforcement mechanisms are inadequate to address the growing instances of food adulteration and excessive pesticide residues in agricultural produce across the country. The plea sought urgent intervention to strengthen monitoring and ensure stricter implementation of food safety norms.
The petition specifically urged the apex court to direct the formation of a National Task Force under its supervision. It also called for a time-bound nationwide audit and inspection drive to improve compliance and enhance accountability in food safety enforcement.
During the hearing, the court observed that while the concerns raised in the petition regarding public health are serious, the creation of a parallel administrative mechanism falls within the domain of executive policy and not judicial intervention.
The bench further noted that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 already provides a comprehensive legislative framework governing food safety in India. It highlighted that the existing structure includes scientific panels and expert committees responsible for regulation and enforcement.
According to reports, the court also expressed reservations about the generalised nature of the petition, pointing out the absence of substantial evidentiary material to support the claims made by the petitioner.
The matter is currently under consideration, with the Supreme Court reserving its order after hearing arguments from all parties. The final ruling is awaited.