The absolute liability of the vendor under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, the presumption of regular official acts, and the opportunity for the accused to challenge the sample if tampering was suspected.

1. This appeal is filed by the State against the order acquitting the respondent - accused in a food adulteration case.

2. On 15-10-1963 at about 11 a. m. the Food Inspector attached to the Ettumanoor Panchayat inspected the Cherpunkal Milk Supplies Sales Depot and purchased from the accused 24 ozs. of curd out of 18

Edangazhies kept in a jar and exposed for sale, on payment of 50 nP. The curd so purchased was as per the rules divided into three equal parts and poured into three clean and dry containers which were duly sealed and labelled. One of the packets was delivered to the accused, a second forwarded to the Public Analyst, Trivandrum for analysis and the third produced in court. The analyst certified that the sample contained not less than 50% of added water as calculated from the solids non-fat content and is therefore adulterated.

3. Pw.1 the Food Inspector gave evidence that he inspected the depot and purchased from the accused 24 ozs. of curd out of the quantity exposed for sale in the jar after notifying that it was meant for analysis. He proved Ext. P-1 notice served on the accused and accepted by him and Ext. P-2 bill given by the accused for the price paid. He goes on to describe how the curd so purchased was divided into three equal parts and poured into clean and dry bottles and corked, labelled and sealed, one bottle being handed over to the accused and the other two despatched to the court and the Public Analyst. He proved Ext. P-4 mahazar which was prepared by him evidencing the sale and the consequent action taken by him in the presence of two adjacent shop keepers and attested by them and the accused. Pw. 2 one of the attestors while admitting his signature and the presence of the accused in the shop at the time denied having seen the purchase and sampling and said he only saw a sealed bottle placed on the table. He had to be declared hostile and cross-examined. He admits he is literate and does not normally sign papers without being appraised of its contents. Pw. 3 is the other attestor. He also turned hostile and took up the same attitude as Pw. 2. He is also a literate person who insists that he signed without being made aware of the contents because it was reported by the Food Inspector that it is only to sign that he saw the bottle on the table. Both these witnesses are traders in the adjacent rooms of the same building and it is only natural that they were not prepared to give evidence against their friend and comrade. Their cross-examination clearly indicates that they were purposely suppressing the truth.

4. When the accused was questioned about the prosecution evidence he denied having sold the curd to the accused and said that he is but a member of the Co-operative Society who stepped into the store on seeing the crowd and was told by the salesman that he had purchased the curd for personal use and was keeping it there to be taken home. When he was pointedly asked about Ext. P-1 notice the receipt of which was acknowledged by him by putting his signature and Ext. P-2 bill given by him for the price of the curd he gave the evasive answer skmsskan his business Milk Supply Co-operative Society branch When he was questioned about his having attested Ext. P-4 mahazar he replied that he did not read it and was compelled by Pw.1 to sign it under threat of prosecution.

5. Dw.1 the Assistant Secretary of the Cherpunkal Milk Supplies Cooperative Society Ltd., No. K. 83 was cited to prove that the store from which Pw.1 effected the purchase was a branch of that Society and that the accused was only a committee member of the Society of which the President and Secretary were K.V. John & C.L. Sebastian respectively and that the Society was dealing in milk alone and not curd and that the salesman was one V.T. Pathrose. Exts. D-1 & D-2 were also filed to show that the rent of the sales depot at Ettumanoor was being paid by the Secretary of the Cherpunkal Society No. K. 83 and the accused was only a member