Use Of Carbide For Ripening Fruits And Vegetables totally Impermissible: Telangana HC

Use Of Carbide For Ripening Fruits And Vegetables Totally Impermissible: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has observed that Carbide seemed to be used excessively to ripen fruits and vegetables for human consumption which is totally impermissible and forbidden by law.

The bench comprising the Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy observed that use of carbide is to be confined to industrial purposes only.

The Telangana High Court was considering a suo motu PIL in 2015 taking note of a report Eenadu Telugu daily News paper titled ”Pandu..Pandu…Pandu… Arogyam Pundu Rasayanam Thani Peru” [Fruit…Fruit…Fruit… Health Wound’ Chemical Its Name’]. The report highlighted the use of prohibited chemicals in ripening fruits in Gaddi Annaram fruit market, Hyderabad and at several other places.

During the course of hearing, the bench observed that an important issue relating to challenges in the Food Safety sector is the use of carbide.

The bench also directed the principal secretary medical, health and family welfare to submit the report regarding the steps taken for the purpose and posted the matter till April 23 for further hearing.

Conference: Criminal Justice Conference @ University of Rajasthan, Jaipur [April 20-21]: Apply by April 5

The bench, while calling for the report, said:

“What now needs to be done is to ensure that carbide does not reach any hand, which is not duly authorized to possess it. Use of carbide is legally permissible as confined to the industrial sector. Therefore, law contains the prohibition that carbide shall not be used in any purpose except industrial purpose. This includes all activities other than those which are purely industrial as duly permitted by law. Therefore, the State Government will take immediate action to take adequate steps in accordance with law against any person found to be in possession of carbide other than those as permitted by law.”