A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Commissioner of Food Safety to ensure that the directives given by it for supplying quality food at Sabarimala were scrupulously implemented during the coming Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
The Bench, comprising Justice P.N. Ravindran and Justice P.B. Suresh Kumar, issued the directive on a report filed by K. Babu, Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.
The Commissioner sought strict vigil over the food to be supplied at Sabarimala and the preparation of Aravana and Appam, and wanted the godowns at Pampa and Sabarimala where the ingredients for the prasadam are stocked to be maintained spick and span.
When the report came up before the Bench, the Government Pleader submitted that instruction had been issued to maintain properly the godowns at Pampa and Sabarimala.
The Food Safety Commissioner had asked the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Pathanamthitta, to conduct frequent inspections at the godowns and food establishments across the State from November, he said. A Food Safety Laboratory had been set up at Sabarimala. Besides, special squads under the Commissioner would start functioning at Sannidhanam, Pampa, Outer Pampa, and Erumeli from November 15 to ensure supply of quality food.
All the towns en route to Sabarimala would also be under the scanner of the food safety officials.
The government pleader informed the court that the jaggery, raisin, sugar, candy, and honey stored in the godowns at Pampa and Sabarimala were found unfit for use in the preparation of Appam and Aravana. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had been asked to return jaggery weighing 5 lakh kg and other ingredients stored in the godowns to the suppliers.
The Food Safety Commissioner pointed out that the godowns were constructed unscientifically.