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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
Yogendra Kumar Purohit, J.
Mohan Lal S/o Shri Chhoga Ji - Petitioner
Versus
State Of Rajasthan – Respondent
S.B. Criminal Misc(Pet.) No. 4417/2017
Decided On : 11-07-2024
FOOD ADULTERATION - ADULTERATION OF FOOD PRODUCTS - ACT 13(2) - The court discussed the mandatory provisions of Section 13(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, which requires the Local Health Authority to serve a copy of the Public Analyst's report to the accused. The court emphasized that failure to properly serve the report undermines the accused's right to challenge the findings, thus impacting the validity of the prosecution. The interpretation of this section was pivotal in determining the outcome of the case, leading to the conclusion that the conviction could not be sustained due to procedural lapses.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved the prosecution of an individual for food adulteration based on a report from the Public Analyst indicating that the food sample was unfit for analysis. The accused contended that he was not properly served with the report, which is a prerequisite for challenging the findings.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the prosecution failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of serving the Public Analyst's report to the accused as stipulated in Section 13(2). The court noted that mere dispatch of the report was insufficient and that the accused's right to defend himself was compromised.
Issues: The primary issue was whether the prosecution had fulfilled its obligation to serve the Public Analyst's report to the accused, thereby allowing him the opportunity to challenge the findings.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the failure to serve the report as required by Section 13(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act constituted a significant procedural error that invalidated the prosecution's case. The court reiterated that the accused must be given the opportunity to contest the report to ensure a fair trial.
Final Decision: The court quashed the conviction and sentence of the accused due to the prosecution's failure to comply with the statutory requirement of serving the Public Analyst's report, thereby violating the accused's rights.
JUDGMENT :
Yogendra Kumar Purohit, J.
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(2)On receipt of the report of the result of the analysis under sub-section (1) to the effect that the article of food is adulterated, the Local (Health) Authority shall, after the institution of prosecution against the persons from whom the sample of the article of food was taken and the person, if any, whose name,
The judgment established that compliance with procedural requirements, specifically the service of the Public Analyst's report, is essential for the validity of prosecution in food adulteration cases....
The court established that compliance with procedural requirements for serving reports in food adulteration cases is essential to uphold the rights of the accused and ensure a fair trial.
Food Inspector having taken steps to proceed against distiller, accused is entitled to take defence provided by Section 19(2) (b). It is not case of prosecution that accused did not properly store fo....
Mere dispatch of report of Public Analyst to accused is not a sufficient compliance with requirement of sub-section (2) of Section 13 of PFA Act, 1954 and report must be served on accused.
When evidence from different laboratories on food adulteration conflicts, prosecution cannot proceed without clear, reliable evidence; inconsistencies create reasonable doubt for acquittal.
The Designated Officer possesses the statutory power to refer a food sample to a Referral Laboratory after recording written reasons if the initial test report is found incomplete or erroneous, and s....
The court reaffirmed that non-compliance with statutory provisions under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act can lead to acquittal, emphasizing the accused's rights to challenge the prosecution's....
Non-compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and the Rules of 1955 can lead to the benefit of doubt for the accused, especially in cases where the prosecution f....
Food samples must be analyzed in NABL-accredited laboratories to ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act; non-compliance renders analysis reports inadmissible.
The failure to comply with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, vitiates the trial and denies the accused a fair opportunity to challenge the evidence against them.
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