HC orders testing of mustard oil brands amid rising complaints of adulteration

Taking cognisance of a “large number of complaints” on blending of mustard oil with other oils, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the testing of three popular brands. In its directive aimed at curbing mustard oil adulteration, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal also directed the placing of the laboratory report before the court in November second week.

In its detailed order, the Bench asserted it would be appropriate that mustard oil testing of at least three different popular brands was undertaken from any of the central laboratories situated within the Union Territory of Chandigarh, or the State of Punjab or Haryana.

The Bench also directed the high court Registrar-General to promptly purchase a litre each of three popular mustard oil brands out of the Chief Justice’s contingency fund. The Registry was subsequently instructed to send 500 ml from each of the three brands to the regional 'Agmark’ laboratory in Amritsar for testing.

“It appears that the instances of adverse action taken against the defaulters indulging in misbranding, adulteration or blending of mustard oil are perfunctory. Respondents do not appear to be either serious about taking action against the defaulters or the concerned legislation does not have enough teeth. Be that as it may, a large number of complaints are being received as regards blending of mustard oil with other oils e.g. refined rice bran oil despite the process of blending having been prohibited under Rule 2.1 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales and Regulations, 2011,” the Bench observed.

Before parting with the case, the Bench asserted that the testing was required to be conducted within 15 days before the submission of the report before the court in a sealed cover “specifically pointing out as to whether the mustard oil is mixed with some other oil or not and the percentage thereof”.

The high court was assisted in the matter by Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain with advocate Anil Chawla on the Union of India’s behalf. The petition in the matter was filed by Rajesh Gupta through counsel Ashok Kumar Nabhewala, while Additional Advocate-General Saurav Khurana appeared for the State of Punjab.