Jaipur: In an order in its ongoing suo motu proceedings on food adulteration, the Rajasthan high court Thursday directed the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) to furnish details of milk procurement, processing and quality testing mechanismsThe HC asked the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to submit a report on the number and operational condition of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) across the state. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjiv Prakash Sharma and Justice Sangita Sharma also ordered that both RCDF and RSPCB be impleaded as party respondents in the matter while hearing a suo motu case related to food adulteration. The court directed RCDF to place on record the standard operating procedures (SOPs) being followed for milk collection, processing and quality checks, along with testing protocols adopted before supply to consumers. The court emphasised that milk is a daily essential commodity and any lapse in quality control directly affects public health. At the same time, the bench sought detailed information from the RSPCB on how many STPs are currently functional in Rajasthan, how many are non-operational, and under what conditions they are running. The court also asked how untreated sewage is being managed in districts where STPs are either inadequate or absent, raising concerns over possible contamination of water sources. The bench further questioned the adequacy of food testing infrastructure in the state. Noting that Rajasthan now has 44 districts, the court asked how effective vegetable testing is being ensured when only 11 food testing laboratories and about 211 testing facilities are available. The judges orally observed that uneven testing mechanisms cannot guarantee uniform food safety standards across districts. The matter is listed for further hearing on April 6, when responses from the concerned authorities would be placed before the court.
