Fraud food dealers face action in J&K

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s stringent Public Safety Act will be slapped against dealers found involved in selling spurious pesticides and fungicides in the state.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said Saturday that law enforcing authorities have been issued directions that no one is allowed to ruin the horticulture sector, which is the “backbone” of state’s economy. Dealers of these chemicals will be arrested and jailed under provisions of the PSA without any trial.

While launching the “high density apple plantation scheme”, she told growers that her government flagged their concerns on priority and steps are being taken to address them.

The PSA, termed as “draconian” by local human rights and political groups and a “lawless law” by Amnesty International, was enacted in 1978. 

It was initially meant to act tough against timber smugglers and others found vandalising forest wealth. However, successive governments have allegedly used the law to suppress dissent. Thousands of people have been detained under the PSA.

The PSA provides for arresting and jailing a person without trial for two years on mere suspicion that he or she may disrupt law and order. However, following criticism particularly on its being used against juveniles, the state Cabinet in 2011 approved amendments to the PSA.

The detention period of suspects was reduced from one year to three months in cases of disturbing public order. 

Those arrested for security reasons can now be detained for up to a maximum of six months against the earlier provision of two years without trial. 

Also, under the changes a minor cannot be detained under the PSA. However, it has been the practice of successive governments to slap the PSA against political opponents, particularly separatists. 

Yet, each case of detention under this law is subject to periodical review by an official screening committee. Also, the courts have in a number of cases quashed the PSA and asked for the release of detainees.