JAMMU, FEB 13
Sakina Itoo, Health Minister, while responding to issues related to the Food Safety Department in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, said that very few legislators had raised concerns about this department in the House.
She stated that all details regarding the meat seized and actions taken during the year 2024–25 have already been shared on the floor of the House. Acknowledging staff shortages, the Health Minister said that vacancies do exist in the department and that a formal demand/reference for the required posts has been sent to the concerned department.
Emphasizing the seriousness of public health, Sakina Itoo asserted that the government cannot allow any action that endangers people’s lives. She also clarified the legal position of Food Safety Officers, stating that they do not have the authority to seize goods, issue challans, or make arrests.
The Health Minister underlined that only the police are empowered to make arrests under the CrPC, and all enforcement actions must strictly follow the legal framework to ensure accountability and protection of public health.
