In Maharashtra, food adulterers will face life term

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly approved a bill on Thursday to amend the application of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 in the state – those caught adulterating food, milk and drugs will now face a life in prison.

At present, the offences under Sections 272 to 276 of the IPC relating to adulteration of food, drink, drugs or medical preparations and their sale, are punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and/ or a fine that may extend to Rs 1,000.

Under the amendment, the offences will also be non-bailable on lines of amendments by the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, making Maharashtra the fourth state to take these stringent measures.

Girish Bapat, the minister for Food and Civil Supplies, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said food adulteration puts the lives of thousands at risk. The present legal provisions were weak. "There are instances where offenders are nabbed in the morning and released on bail in the evening," says Bapat.

Crimes of these nature are non-cognisable, and except those relating to adulteration of drugs and medicines, bailable. However, there are variations with the relevant sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 which deal with such offences.