Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Sep 17: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday directed all respondents in a case concerning the sale of rotten and unsafe meat to file their complete responses within ten days.
The matter relates to Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 9 of 2025), which was filed by Advocate Mir Umar. He is represented in court by Advocate Shafqat Nazir, while Senior Advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie is assisting the court as amicus curiae.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, heard the matter and took note of measures undertaken by the police following earlier court directions.
The Bench observed that the steps taken by the Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) of Kashmir and Jammu had resulted in a visible change on the ground.
The court recorded that several seizures of unsafe food, including rotten meat and other items, had been made in recent weeks. It also noted that police had initiated action in a number of cases, with First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against those found selling food deemed unsafe for public consumption.
In its order, the court said that respondents who had not yet filed replies should place their pleadings on record within ten days. It stressed that no further delay would be entertained in completing the process of responses. The case has been listed for further hearing thereafter.
The PIL, which was filed last month, raises concerns over the unchecked availability of unhygienic and unsafe food items in different districts of the Union Territory. Apart from meat, it highlights the circulation of chicken and synthetic cheese that, according to the petitioner, are being sold without proper quality checks or oversight by regulatory authorities.
Earlier hearings in the case had led the High Court to issue specific directions to the IGPs of both regions to monitor and strengthen enforcement of food safety measures.
The latest proceedings recorded that some action had been taken as a result of those directions, but the Bench maintained that the issue required sustained oversight.
The court will review the matter again once all respondents have filed their replies and the pleadings are complete. The case is scheduled to come up after ten days.
