Kashmir food safety wing hit by staff crunch, case backlog, reveals RTI

Srinagar, Apr 30: The Food Safety Department in Kashmir is grappling with manpower shortages, limited laboratory infrastructure and a mounting backlog of cases, reveals official information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by activist M.M. Shuja.
The RTI reply states that 25 posts are lying vacant in the Kashmir division, including 5 gazetted and 20 non-gazetted posts. It said that against a sanctioned strength of 13 gazetted posts, only 8 are in position, while in the non-gazetted category, 41 officials are working against 61 sanctioned posts.
Regarding budget utilisation, the reply states that the department has consistently utilised most of its allocated funds over the last five financial years. In 2025–26, out of Rs 878.02 lakh allocated, Rs 868.30 lakh was spent.
Similarly, Rs 786.85 lakh out of Rs 795.57 lakh was spent in 2024–25, Rs 738.98 lakh out of Rs 767.69 lakh in 2023–24, Rs 721.08 lakh out of Rs 736.84 lakh in 2022–23 and Rs 614.10 lakh out of Rs 621.73 lakh in 2021–22.
Regarding inspections, the reply states that figures show a fluctuating trend over the years. While 13,201 inspections were conducted in 2021–22, the number declined to 10,920 in 2025–26. The figures stood at 12,068 in 2022–23, 11,873 in 2023–24 and 12,204 in 2024–25.
The RTI also reveals limited sampling in certain categories. “Only 29 egg samples were collected, all of which were found conforming to standards. However, in meat quality checks carried out during 2025, 104 samples were lifted, out of which 30 were found substandard, unsafe or with labelling defects,” it reads. It added that action was taken under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
As per the RTI, 1,011 civil cases are pending as of February 28, 2026, with Rs 1.16 crore in fines imposed.
Additionally, 84 criminal cases have been registered, with fines amounting to Rs 4.46 lakh. The department has also issued 1,499 challans, collecting around Rs 18.89 lakh in penalties.
The reply further states that over the past five years, 1,145 civil cases have resulted in convictions, while only 7 criminal cases have ended in conviction, indicating low conversion in criminal enforcement.
The RTI states that the Kashmir division currently has only one functional food testing laboratory at Dalgate Srinagar, along with six mobile food testing vans. Samples are also sent to national-level laboratories for advanced analysis.
Notably, the department has disclosed that ‘no Detailed Project Report (DPR)’ has been prepared or submitted so far for establishing modern food testing laboratories or strengthening monitoring systems.
Officials said that district-level food safety offices are operational across Kashmir, headed by designated officers and supported by field staff. However, the existing manpower shortage continues to affect enforcement on the ground. (KNO)