The prosecution for offenses under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, must be conducted in accordance with the procedure laid down in the respective Acts, including the authorization of the Investigating Officer as a Food Safety Officer and compliance with the requirements of Section 42 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

R.K. Bag, J.

The petitioner has preferred this revision under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure praying for quashing the proceeding of G.R. Case no.769 of 2013 arising out of Raipur Police Station Caseno.103 of 2013 dated October 23, 2013 and challenging the order dated December 5, 2013 passed in the same case by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Khatra in the district of Bankura, whereby the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the offence under Section 7(I)(a) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and under Section 59(i)of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

2. It appears from the materials on record that the Block Development Officer, Raipur in the district of Bankura filed a written complaint before the Officer-in-Charge of Raipur Police Station on October 23, 2013, on the basis of which Raipur Police Station Case no. 103 of 2013 dated October 23, 2013 under Section 406 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 7(I)(a) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and under Section 59 (i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 came into existence. The police investigated the said criminal case and submitted charge-sheet against the present petitioner before the court of learned Magistrate. On December 5, 2013, learned Magistrate took cognizance of the offence only under Section 7(I)(a) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and under Section 59 (i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The said order of taking cognizance by learned Magistrate is under challenge in this revision, apart from prayer for quashing the entire criminal proceeding.

3. Mr. Sandipan Ganguly, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that learned Magistrate acted in excess of jurisdiction conferred on him by law by taking cognizance of the offences under Section 7(I)(a) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and under Section 59(i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. He has pointed out from the order passed by learned Magistrate that learned Magistrate did not take cognizance of the offence under Section 406 of the Indian Penal Code. By referring to the provision of Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Mr. Ganguly argues that Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 can be invoked only if any person contravenes any order made under Section 3 of the said Act. He further argues that the Investigating Officer has not disclosed in the charge-sheet which order issued under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 has been violated by the petitioner. By referring to the provision of Section 97 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the second schedule appended thereto, Mr. Ganguly contends that any order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food has been repealed with effect from August 4, 2011, i.e., long before the commission of the alleged offence disclosed in the FIR. According to Mr. Ganguly, in the absence of violation of any order issued under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the petitioner is not liable for any offence punishable under Section 7(I)(a) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

4. With regard to the offence punishable under Section 59(i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Mr. Ganguly contends that the prosecution for the offence under Section 59(i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 can be launched by the Food Safety Officer appointed by the Commissioner of Food Safety of the Central Government or authorised by the State Government under Section 37 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. By referring to the provision of Section 42 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Mr. Ganguly submits that the Food Safety Officer can launch the prosecution under Section 59(i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 only on the basis of communication of the Commissioner of Food Safety, which can be done by the said Commissioner of Food Safety if recommended by the Designated