Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 5: The Enforcement Wing of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department, once instrumental in conducting market inspections, controlling prices and preventing black-marketing, appears largely dormant, with no major enforcement activity reported in recent years, even as the government completes a year in office.
In March last year, following directives from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the department announced the “reactivation” of its Enforcement Wing and the formation of market-check teams across the Valley to ensure the display of official price lists and curb overpricing of essential commodities.
The then Director FCS&CA had said, “Nobody will be spared. We will take legal action against those involved in overpricing and violating the norms.”
The reactivation came in response to rising consumer complaints about erratic pricing and lack of market discipline. A public notice issued by the FCS&CA Department had urged all retail shop owners to clearly display prices and warned that failure to do so would be treated as an unfair trade practice, inviting legal action.
However, on-ground activity has been sparse, with few market checks conducted beyond sporadic operations.
During Ramadhan, Diwali and other festive periods, a few inspections were reported in select districts, but residents say these were neither sustained nor comprehensive across the Valley.
The government has repeatedly assured consumers of continued enforcement efforts. In a statement issued over three months ago, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma reiterated the administration’s “zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration” and assured that the enforcement campaign would continue.
Yet, residents and consumer activists argue that these assurances have not translated into consistent action.
A recent report also highlighted adulterated food and lax checks underscored public anxiety over weak enforcement, with local civil society groups decrying the lapse.
Repeated attempts to obtain an updated official comment on the current status of the Enforcement Wing, ongoing market checks, or steps being taken to strengthen enforcement went unanswered. Officials from the FCS&CA Department remained unresponsive to multiple calls and messages.
Residents said the Enforcement Wing’s limited activity and lack of strong punitive powers have allowed price manipulation and quality compromises to persist. “Earlier, we used to see officials visiting markets, checking weights and prices, but now nobody comes. Shopkeepers fix rates as they please, and common people have nowhere to complain,” said Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta, Srinagar.
Another resident, Mubashir, said they only hear about fines or inspections in the news, but see no difference on the ground. “Vegetables, chicken and mutton rates change from shop to shop without any control,” he said.
With government statements stressing intent but little visible enforcement on the ground, consumers say they are left waiting for meaningful action.
