Minimum six-month jail term proposed by parliamentary panel for those selling adulterated food
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP MP Brijlal said.
«The committee recommends that a minimum punishment of six months be provided for the offence under this clause along with a minimum fine of Rs 25,000,» it said.
Referring to the sale of noxious food or drinks, the panel said the offence has the potential to affect the public at large and that the punishment provided for the offenders under this clause is also inadequate.
«The committee recommends that a minimum punishment of six months be provided for the offence under this clause along with a minimum fine of Rs 10,000,» it said.
At present, the offence of food adulteration is punishable with a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to R 1,000, or with both.
The committee also described as a «welcome step» the introduction of «community service» as one of the punishments under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
«This is a very commendable effort and a reformatory approach to tackle the delinquent. Its introduction as a punishment was appreciated by all stakeholders as it shall not only reduce the burden on the prison infrastructure by reducing the number of prison inmates but also improve the management of prisons in the country,» the panel said.
However, the committee said, the term and nature of community service has not been specified.
The committee observes that the community service represents a form of unpaid work that offenders might be obligated to undertake as an alternative to incarceration.
«The committee, therefore, recommends that the term and nature of community service should be specified and suitably defined,» it said.
The panel also recommended that while inserting definition of the
