Delhi HC initiates Suo moto PIL over the sale of expired food products
Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by News Desk
Delhi High Court has initiated a Suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) over the sale of expired food products after repackaging it with new expiry dates.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in its January 8 order, issued notice and sought responses from the Centre, the Delhi government, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Delhi Police. The court further appointed advocate Shweta Sree Mazumdar as amicus curiae in the matter.
The issue gained attention when the single-judge bench referred the matter to the acting chief justice to deal with the aforesaid issue judicially. Justice Singh was hearing a suit filed by renowned chocolate company, Hershey’s, seeking to restrain the counterfeiters who rebranded and sold Hershey’s products beyond their expiry period. The single bench observed that the lawsuit revealed an “extraordinary situation involving public health, particularly relating to food products”.
She noted that there is an apparent system and coordinated mechanism where the expired food products are re-packaged and rebranded with the new expiry dates which poses a significant threat to public health. She therefore ordered a detailed investigation by Delhi police.
The court has listed the matter further on February 8.
[Case title- Court on its own motion v. Atul Jalan Trading as Akshat Online Traders and Ors.]
Written by Shagun Behal
