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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC refuses to stay QR code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route
Justices M M Sundresh & N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra Press Trust of India New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the "QR" code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route in UP, Uttarakhand and directed all hotel owners along the route to display their licences and registration certificates in line with the statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the UP government should have sought the modification of the court's 2024 order before issuing the QR code directives. Singhvi argued the state government was trying to ostracise and exclude minorities by its QR code directive for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. "This is the most divisive initiative, to ostracise people during the yatra, as if these people are untouchables. Will my surname ensure that 'kanwariyas' receive good quality food not menu card? This is the most divisive initiative possible," the senior lawyer submitted. Referring to news reports over the alleged attacks on certain shops by kanwariyas, the senior lawyer said, "When you sow the seeds of divisiveness, the rest is taken care of by the populace." Responding to his submission, Justice Sundresh said people had different food choices and a vegetarian may choose to go to only a place serving exclusively vegetarian food, especially during a religious pilgrimage. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said directions were issued in line with the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations. "There are people in this country who will not eat in there brother's house if meat is cooked. There are sentiments of devotees," Rohatgi said, "and as per the regulations under the Act they require photo identity. Why are you scared of showing your name? I don't understand." Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing other petitioners, said the eateries along this route only sold vegetarian items during this period according to local regulations. Justice Sundresh observed a customer must have the choice of knowing if a place was exclusively selling vegetarian items throughout. "If a hotel is running as a vegetarian hotel all through, then the question of indicating names and other things will not arise. But if only for the purpose of yatra, somebody stops serving non-vegetarian and starts selling vegetarian, the consumer should know," the judge remarked. He continued, "To that extent, consumers should have that flexibility. If one hotel was earlier serving non-vegetarian, and for the purpose of better business they serve only vegetarian during the yatra, it will be an issue for the consideration of the consumer. The choice is of the consumer. Consumer is the king." The bench further said it was not inclined to examine the petition as the issue was infructuous considering it was last day of the yatra. The Supreme Court last year stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the UP government on June 25, Jha, said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." The petitioner said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with "kanwars" carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform "jalabhishek" of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of "Shravan". Many believers shun the consumption of meat during the month and even avoid meals cooked with onion and garlic. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mint
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
SC orders eateries, hotels on Kanwar Yatra route to comply with licensing, refuses to stay QR code directive
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the "QR" code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route in UP, Uttarakhand and directed all hotel owners along the route to display their licences and registration certificates in line with the statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Senior advocate Singhvi submitted that the UP government should have sought the modification of the court's 2024 order before issuing the QR code directives. Singhvi argued the state government was trying to ostracise and exclude minorities by its QR code directive for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. "This is the most divisive initiative, to ostracise people during the yatra, as if these people are untouchables. Will my surname ensure that 'kanwariyas' receive good quality food not menu card? This is the most divisive initiative possible," the senior lawyer submitted. Referring to news reports over the alleged attacks on certain shops by kanwariyas, the senior lawyer said, 'When you sow the seeds of divisiveness, the rest is taken care of by the populace.' Responding to his submission, Justice Sundresh said people had different food choices and a vegetarian may choose to go to only a place serving exclusively vegetarian food, especially during a religious pilgrimage. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said directions were issued in line with the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations. "There are people in this country who will not eat in there brother's house if meat is cooked. There are sentiments of devotees," Rohatgi said, 'and as per the regulations under the Act they require photo identity. Why are you scared of showing your name? I don't understand.' Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing other petitioners, said the eateries along this route only sold vegetarian items during this period according to local regulations. Justice Sundresh observed a customer must have the choice of knowing if a place was exclusively selling vegetarian items throughout. "If a hotel is running as a vegetarian hotel all through, then the question of indicating names and other things will not arise. But if only for the purpose of yatra, somebody stops serving non-vegetarian and starts selling vegetarian, the consumer should know," the judge remarked. He continued, "To that extent, consumers should have that flexibility. If one hotel was earlier serving non-vegetarian, and for the purpose of better business they serve only vegetarian during the yatra, it will be an issue for the consideration of the consumer. The choice is of the consumer. Consumer is the king." The bench further said it was not inclined to examine the petition as the issue was infructuous considering it was last day of the yatra. The Supreme Court last year stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the UP government on June 25, Jha, said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." The petitioner said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with "kanwars" carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform "jalabhishek" of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of "Shravan". Many believers shun the consumption of meat during the month and even avoid meals cooked with onion and garlic.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
489 convicted for food adulteration in 3 months
Jaipur: In the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26, as many as 489 people have been convicted by courts for food adulteration, and only 10 acquitted, out of 499 such cases decided, according to health department's official figures. In the previous financial year (2024-25), health department filed 3,141 cases related to food adulteration in courts across the state, in which the courts acquitted just 30 accused, while the rest were convicted for food adulteration. In the first quarter of the current financial year, the department conducted 3,432 inspections against the target of 2,820 inspections. In 2024-25, the department had conducted 13,613 inspections against a target of 11,160. A health department official said, "We are continuously conducting inspections of food establishments. Upon food samples failing safety tests, we are presenting the cases to courts." Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently praised the state for efforts to prevent adulteration through sampling actions and public awareness campaigns. The ongoing campaign against adulteration in the state has increased public awareness and is effectively curbing adulteration, it noted. However, the concern is the pendency of cases that still have to be filed in courts. In April, May, and June this year, the department filed 998 cases but is yet to file 1,583 cases related to food adulteration and other violations of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. In Jaipur alone, 297 cases are yet to be filed in courts. FSSAI has emphasised the importance of concluding adjudication cases within 90 days of the first hearing of the case, as mandated by the FSS Act 2006. From April 2024 to March 2025, 18,213 food samples were collected in the state. Among these, 863 were found unsafe, 3,734 substandard, and 131 misbranded.
India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Behind India's food reform movement: A look at the Eat Right India strategy
India's top food safety and nutrition movement, Eat Right India, is making progress in improving the country's food in 2018 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the initiative promotes safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all. Now in its seventh year, the campaign has trained over 12 lakh food handlers and repurposed 55 lakh litres of used cooking oil, of which 39 lakh litres have been converted into Minister Narendra Modi earlier praised the movement during his Mann Ki Baat address on June 29, calling on citizens to reduce oil in their diets and embrace healthy eating habits. "Reduce oil in food by 10%, reduce excess weight. When you are fit, you will be superhit in your life," he said, underlining the need for public participation in tackling obesity and other lifestyle CHANGING FOOD LANDSCAPEModern lifestyles and urbanisation have led to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the same time, concerns around food safety, from chemical residues to unhygienic cooking practices, have become more Right India was designed as a response to these challenges, aiming to make both food safety and nutrition a public health movement works across three pillars: improving food safety standards, educating consumers, and promoting environmentally sustainable STATIONS AND CLEAN FOOD HUBSAs of July 6, 2025, India has 284 certified Eat Right Stations at railway hubs and 249 Clean Street Food Hubs where vendors have been trained to maintain hygiene and serve safe like FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) are ensuring that street vendors, restaurant workers, and other food handlers are equipped with proper knowledge of food safety like 'Aaj Se Thoda Kam' encourage the public to cut down on salt, sugar, and oil. Meanwhile, Trans Fat-Free India is working to eliminate harmful industrial fats from processed RIGHT CAMPUSES IN OFFICES AND SCHOOLSFrom Eat Right Campuses in offices and hospitals to Eat Right Schools that include nutrition in the curriculum, the campaign is bringing healthier food practices to everyday places of worship and fruit and vegetable markets are being certified under the is also pushing sustainability, urging businesses to cut down on single-use plastics and manage food waste responsibly. One of the major successes has been the RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative, where used oil from restaurants is collected and turned into RECOGNITIONThe campaign has earned international praise, winning the Rockefeller Foundation's Food Systems Vision Prize in 2021 and being recognised by the World Health Organisation as a global best practice for reducing trans strong support from government bodies, private businesses, NGOs, and citizen groups, Eat Right India could make nutritious, safe, and eco-friendly food a reality for every Indian.- Ends
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Watch: Food Safety Team Busts Illegal Milk Mixing Operations In Agra
Food adulteration is an illegal practice where individuals involved in the production or sale of food intentionally compromise the quality of food items. This is often done to reduce production costs or to make the food products appear better than they really are. The substances used in adulteration can lower the nutritional value of food and pose health risks to consumers. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regularly conducts inspections and raids across the country to ensure that those involved in the production, packaging, transportation, or sale of food adhere to safety standards. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (UPFSDA) uncovered illegal milk mixing operations in Agra. They confiscated suspected adulterated milk from a tanker. A video shared by the FSSAI on their official Instagram account on July 13, 2025, shows a large quantity of milk being dumped into a ditch directly from the tanker. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FSSAI (@fssai_safefood) Samples were collected, and the FSSAI shared that legal action will be taken based on the investigation results. This quick action reiterates FSSAI's commitment to ensuring safe food for all. Previously, on July 11, 2025, the UPFSDA conducted an intensive inspection of dhabas, hotels and restaurants in Muzaffarnagar. During this time, their food license, registration and Food Safety Connect app were installed, and everyone was made aware of food safety. In the pictures shared by the FSSAI on their Instagram handle, we can spot street food stalls selling chhole kulche, mango shake, kadhi chawal, bottled water, juice, and other popular Indian meals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FSSAI (@fssai_safefood) These safety inspections are essential to ensure that widely sold street food items are safe and hygienic for consumption.
