Taking cognizance of reports of adulterated milk being sold without hindrance in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, the Supreme Court Thursday called on he state governments to amend their laws to prevent production and marketing of adulterated milk.
The court was hearing a public suit which said samples collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011 revealed large-scale sale of adulterated milk across the country.
Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri, who were presiding on the case, said the offence is punishable with life imprisonment.
The apex court bench observed that the maximum punishment of six months for such offences under the Food Safety and Standards Act is grossly inadequate.