The Hindu : Contempt plea against officials for sale of unsafe water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Contempt plea against officials for sale of unsafe water

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI MAY 6. More than a year after the Madras High Court asked the State Government to take action against those who manufactured/sold/exhibited packaged drinking water without the mandatory BIS certification mark, the original petitioner has filed a contempt petition against officials for `disobeying' the direction.

Vanishree Gnaneswaran, who filed the original public interest litigation petition and obtained an interim direction on April 10 last year, said despite a specific court direction, the Secretary to the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply and the Commissioner of Municipal Administration failed to take action against those selling packaged drinking water without any valid certification.

According to her, there were about 180 units engaged in manufacturing and marketing certified water, whereas more than 200 such units were violating the mandatory provision. Under the amended provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 2000, which took effect from March 29, 2001, every drinking water package should carry a `certain declaration in capital letters', and no person should manufacture or sell or exhibit for sale packaged drinking water except under the BIS certification mark.

Stating that the provisions had been introduced keeping in mind the public health and safety, the petitioner pointed out that the Union Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs recently cancelled licences for a number of popular packaged drinking water brands because of the presence of pesticide residues beyond acceptable limits. Holding the respondent-officials responsible for easy availability of uncertified and unsafe packaged drinking water in the State, Mrs. Gnaneswaran prayed for an order punishing the officials for `disobeying' the court orders.

The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice B. Subhashan Reddy and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla admitted the petition and ordered notices to the respondents.

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