The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has banned the entry of unsafe food into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in terms of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 such as rotten, unhygienic meat, fish and poultry products into the Union Territory citing risk of grave public health crisis.

The Court was considering a Writ Petition filed in this regard based on the newspaper reports highlighting the unchecked sale of rotten, unhygienic and unsafe meat and poultry products in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The division bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal observed, "In the meanwhile, Inspector Generals of Police, Jammu as also Kashmir Division and Commissioner, Food Safety and Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir shall ensure that no unsafe food, in terms of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is funneled into the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir."

The Petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganai, while the Respondent was represented by Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadri.

The Court pointed out that despite the matter being sensitive, the Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar have chosen to remain silent.

The Senior Advocate had submitted that immediate judicial intervention is warranted to address grave public health crisis in J&K, particularly the Kashmir valley, that stems from large scale sale of rotten, unhygienic meat, fish and poultry products. With reference to several reports published in leading newspapers and aired on television channels, he asserted that such meat and poultry are transported into J&K from different parts of the country in unhygienic conditions without cold-chain facilities and requisite certification by authorized veterinary officers. Thus, he submitted that the apparent inaction and indifference on the part of the concerned authorities, including the Directorate of Food Safety, the Municipal Corporation(s), the Health Department as also the law enforcement agencies to curb this menace, demonstrate gross administrative negligence and apathy. Something that is in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as also the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Stating that the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, mandates regulation, licensing, and inspection of slaughterhouses, meat markets as also the premises where food is processed or sold, the Court pointed out that the authorities have failed to discharge their statutory duties/obligations and urged that recent discovery of large quantity of rotten meat in Kashmir has rather underscore the immediate need for strict regulatory mechanism.

The matter was adjourned to September 10, 2025.

Cause Title: Mir Umar vs. Union Territory of J&K and Ors.

Appearances:

Petitioner- Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Jehangir Iqbal Ganai, Advocate Shafqat Nazir, Petitioner In-Person

Respondent- Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadri, Deputy Advocate General Bikramdeep Singh, Deputy Advocate General Hakim Aman Ali, Government Advocate Waseem Gul

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Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High CourtChief Justice Arun PalliJustice Rajnesh Oswal

Sheetal Joon