The division bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Vipin Sanghi sought the report from the committee for framing a policy for periodic checks to detect pesticides' residue in vegetables and fruits.
Expressing displeasure over the committee for not holding its meetings frequently to decide the guidelines, the bench said, "There has been hardly any progress to the status report. In two months, only two meetings have been held. It's not acceptable to us.
"We expect the committee to convene meetings more frequently. Status report be filed positively two days prior to the next date of hearing," said the bench, while posting the matter for October 10.
The court had earlier directed the Union government to constitute the committee after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging use of banned pesticides in vegetables and fruits.
The court also observed that "the matters of these nature cannot be delayed" and said the committee needed to meet more frequently.
The bench had ordered forming of the seven-member expert committee, headed by Union agriculture ministry's Joint Director Sarita Bhalla with the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee Secretary Sandhya Kulshrestha and others as its members.
The other members are Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Director Dhir Singh, Principal Scientist N K Sharma of the agriculture ministry, Food Analyst S M Bhardwaj of Delhi's Department of Food Safety, Joint Director (Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage) Vipin Bhatnagar and senior advocate V K Rao. (More)
