HC closes plea against units manufacturing adulterated packaged water

Chandigarh: The

Punjab and Haryana high court

has closed a petition against factories in Punjab that are allegedly into the business of bottling and selling adulterated and unhygienic

packed water

. The court closed the plea after recording the assurance from Punjab government and authorities concerned for taking action on the issue.

It was alleged that such business of selling adulterated packed water is being run in areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Batala and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab.

The matter had reached the high court in the wake of

public interest litigation

(PIL) filed by Sanjeev Bhaskar from Punjab, seeking directions to the state government to conduct an inquiry or investigation against factories or plants, which are in the business of bottling and selling adulterated and unhygienic packed water. The petitioner alleged that these factories/plants are violating norms and guidelines to sell adulterated water in areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Batala and Hoshiarpur. He also argued that necessary permission/certificate has also not been obtained from the authorising agency. It was also argued that the petitioner had submitted representations to the state authorities in this regard but no action has been taken till date.

The Punjab government counsel, on instructions from state food and drug administration joint commissioner Manoj Khosla, submitted that authorities have been monitoring these factories/plants and investigation is also being conducted.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli observed, “It is also submitted that if so required, the petitioner would also be involved in the investigation for the purpose of seeking information from him. In view of the above, present petition is disposed of in terms of the statement made by learned deputy advocate general, Punjab.”