COMMON CAUSE vs UNION GOVERNMENT

- IN this Petition brought by the Common Cause, the main grievance put forward by the Petitioner- Society is that adequate steps are not being taken by the Government of INdia and the State Governments to insist on iodisation of edible salt sold to the general public in the goitre-prone areas of this country.

IN response to notices issued by this Commission, the Government of INdia has appeared before us through Counsel and placed before us statistics available with them identifying the goitreprone areas and also explained the various steps taken by the Government of INdia for enforcement of its policy of complete iodisation of the salt sold in the market throughout the country by the year 1992. The State of Uttar Pradesh, within whose territory there are many goitre-prone areas, has filed a detailed counter-affidavit before us wherein it has been stated that a total ban has now been imposed by the State on the sale of non-iodised salt anywhere within the State of Uttar Pradesh and that necessary amendments for making such sale of non-iodised salt an offence under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act have been carried out in the said Act and the rules. We have also had the benefit of submissions regarding the working of the scheme formulated by the Government of India by Mr. Mathur, Research Officer, Goitre Control Programme, Government of India.

In the light of the submissions and all the aforesaid materials placed before us, we are satisfied that the programme of total iodisation is being seriously implemented by the Government of India and that action is being taken to see that all necessary steps are taken by the different States in the country where there are goitre-prone areas to ensure that only iodised salt is being sold to the public. In the circumstances, we do not consider that any further orders by this Commission are called for in this matter except to record the assurance given to us by the representative of M/s. Hindustan Salts Ltd., Mr. A.K. Shukla, who appeared before us in person, that the said company, which is one of the leading manufacturers of salt in the public sector will take all necessary steps to maintain the requisite standard of iodisation in the salt marketed by them and that the percentage of iodisation will also be indicated on the packaging of the salt. We also record the assurance given by the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Government of India that necessary action will be taken by the Union Government to ensure that its policy is fully implemented within the time-frame that they have indicated, namely before the end of 1992. In regard to complete iodisation of the salt sold in the market throughout this country. We are also assured by learned Counsel for the Union Government that as regards goitre-prone areas, the Government of India will spare no efforts to see that the State Governments of the concerned States where those areas are situated, take immediate action to sec that only iodised salt is marketed to the general public in these areas. Mrs. Urmila Kapoor, learned Advocate appearing for the State of Manipur also joined in the assurance given by the Counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh and for the Union Government. We close this Petition with the above observations. Petition allowed.