Animal Husbandry Department Questioned On Poor Food Quality

According to a report by the Free Press Journal, the department of Animal Husbandry was questioned on the poor quality of food being supplied by the poultry farms in Maharashtra. The department was reprimanded on its slack of regular inspections of the farms and ensuring that only healthy birds were brought to the markets in the state.

Poor Poultry Supply In The State

“You (department) cannot run away from your responsibilities. We fail to understand why the authorities cannot enter the poultry farms and inspect the condition of birds, before they are brought in the market,” said the bench of Justices Naresh Patil and Girish Kulkarni at the Bombay High Court. Justice Patil also added, “Our only concern is that the food which is being made available for the citizens in the markets, must not be contaminated. What if something wrong takes place? Will you continue saying you have no authority to inspect birds in poultry farms?”

The bench had gathered after they got submissions by government pleader Purnima Kantharia that the officials of the animal husbandry department weren’t in the power to inspect poultry farms. She also said that the birds were checked after being brought to the market but the court believes that if not checked while in the farm, health check after arrival to the market was of no use.

“There is no point in inspecting the birds when they are already in the markets for human consumption. What if some birds are not checked? The birds must ideally be checked even during their stay at farms.” “You just cannot cite lack of powers and say you cannot enter the poultry premises. You must enter and see how the birds are maintained there and if any probiotic or antibiotic is being administered,” Justice Patil remarked according to the report by the Free Press Journal.

Actions Post Court Hearing

Kantharia told the court that the animal husbandry department will be looking into the issue and the ministry will take a decision on the matter soon. The matter of poor quality of birds was brought to light through a public interest litigation filed by an NGO called Citizen Circle for Social Welfare and Education reports the Free Press Journal. The NGO is being represented on the matter by the advocate Shehzad Nagvi who put forth the ‘sorry start of affairs’ of the poultry farms in Maharashtra before the court. The litigation also sought the effective regulation of the poultry farms which are allegedly not under scrutiny and checks.

The Bombay High Court bench has kept the next hearing on the matter after two weeks and says that it hopes that regular inspections of the farms will be in place. Along with the regulations and quality control, the bench has also asked the authorities to issue an advisory to these farms to strictly follow the norms.