Expressing grave concern over the reports about manufacturing of “synthetic” milk emanating from various parts of the states close to the national capital, where supply of such milk could not be ruled out, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and six states seeking reports on the issue.
A bench of Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapaidia and Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar issued the notices to the Centre and states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand asking them to file affidavits specifying action taken by them to check the supply of spurious milk and milk products within four weeks.
The notices came on a public interest litigation filed by Swami Achyutanand Tirth, stating that several reports had appeared in the media with some “sting operations” on the preparing and supplying of synthetic milk in these states.
“The states be asked to take effective steps to put a complete ban on manufacturing, sale and supply of adulterated/synthetic milk, which is prepared by using hazardous material like urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda, while paint etc.” Not only milk but the milk products like “mawa, butter, cheese, ghee” prepared from the synthetic milk posed a grave danger to the human health, the PIL said.
“The inaction and apathy of the authorities concerned in these states to check all such illegal activities is in fact causing serious danger to the health and life of the people as a whole,” the petitioner said. He also sought to invoke his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution that such unscrupulous people should not be allowed to cause any harm to his life.