To Hon’ble The Chief Justice,High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Jammu/Srinagar

Subject: PIL Request – Rotten Meat Crisis in Kashmir Valley & Unregulated
Promotion by Food Bloggers Endangering Public Health

Respected Lordship,
This is an urgent appeal seeking judicial intervention to address a public health
emergency unfolding in the Kashmir Valley. Over the past few months, credible
reports, municipal inspections, and police seizures have exposed an alarming
rise in the sale of stale, unhygienic, and rotten meat in restaurants, butcher
shops, and cafes across various districts.

Documented Incidents:

On 7th ,8th 9th August , in srinaga( lalchowk , batamallo , dalgate etc), the
Srinagar Municipal Corporation & food safety department j&kseized several
quintals of rotten meat from multiple butchers.

Multiple FIRs have been lodged under Section 59 of the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 (penalty for unsafe food) and under provisions of the
Indian Penal Code / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for acts endangering life.

Similar cases have been reported from Anantnag, Baramulla, and Pulwama,
pointing to a valley-wide menace.

Parallel Problem –

Irresponsible Promotion by Food Bloggers:
A disturbing trend has emerged wherein numerous social media food
bloggers/influencers are actively promoting meat-based dishes and restaurants
without any verification of hygiene standards, meat sourcing, or FSSAI
compliance. Their actions:

Mislead the public by creating a false impression of quality.

Encourage unsafe consumption, thereby aiding and abetting potential violations
of the Food Safety Act.

May constitute an offence under Section 272 IPC/BNS (adulteration of food)
read with Section 120B IPC/BNS (criminal conspiracy) if done in collusion
with sellers.

Legal Position & Judicial Precedents:

1. Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the Right to Life, which
   includes the right to safe food (Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of
   India, (2013) 10 SCC 1).
2. In Pawan Kumar v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2017 SCC OnLine HP 416),
   the Court upheld stringent penalties for sale of unsafe meat, recognising it as a
   threat to public health.
3. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Karnataka Pradesh Hotel and Restaurants
   Association v. State of Karnataka (AIR 1991 SC 1902) recognised the duty of
   food business operators to ensure hygienic and safe consumables.

Prayer for Urgent Directions:
It is humbly prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to:

1. Direct the Food Safety Department & Municipal Bodies to carry out surprise
   inspections across all districts, seizing and destroying unsafe meat immediately.
2. Mandate strict FSSAI certification for all meat-selling outlets, with monthly
   public disclosure of inspection results.
3. Frame binding guidelines for food bloggers/influencers in J&K, making due
   diligence on hygiene and food safety a legal prerequisite before promoting any
   outlet.
4. Empower law enforcement agencies to register FIRs against bloggers who
   knowingly or negligently promote unsafe food, treating it as abetment under the
   Penal Code/BNS.
5. Appoint a court-monitored committee to oversee compliance for the next 12
   months, ensuring long-term deterrence.

Conclusion:
This matter is not merely about commercial malpractice — it is about protecting
human lives from deliberate and negligent acts that spread disease, cause injury,
and undermine the sanctity of the food chain. Without judicial intervention, this
crisis will worsen, aided by the unchecked influence of digital promotion.

I place this appeal before Your Lordship in the hope that constitutional
guardianship over the right to life and health will prevail over apathy, and
exemplary directions will be issued without delay.

With the highest respect,

Advocate Adnan Hussain Magray
Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir
7006270180