Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Mar 29: As many as 190 spurious or substandard pesticide samples have been detected across Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years, with authorities initiating 149 prosecutions and recovering Rs 3.50 lakh in fines, according to official data.
The data shows that enforcement agencies conducted 12,549 inspections across the Union Territory, during which 10,222 samples were collected and analysed.
Of these, 190 samples were found to be misbranded or not conforming to prescribed standards, while 45 samples were later declared standard after re-analysis, reflecting the role of verification mechanisms in the testing process.
The Kashmir division accounted for the overwhelming majority of violations, with 179 substandard samples detected out of 9,043 analysed.
Officials conducted 10,483 inspections in the region, leading to 145 prosecutions and recovery of Rs 2.80 lakh in fines.
In 2023-24, 62 samples out of 2,776 tested in Kashmir were found substandard, prompting 70 prosecutions and recovery of Rs 0.60 lakh in fines.
An additional eight prosecutions were launched for other violations.
The number of defective samples rose to 70 out of 4,014 analysed in 2024-25, although prosecutions dropped to 36. Fine recovery, however, increased to Rs 1.70 lakh.
Notably, 34 samples initially flagged as substandard were later declared standard following re-analysis.
In the ongoing 2025-26 fiscal year, up to December, 47 out of 2,253 samples tested in Kashmir were found substandard.
Authorities initiated 39 prosecutions and recovered Rs 0.50 lakh in fines, while eight samples were cleared after re-analysis.
In contrast, the Jammu division reported significantly fewer violations, with only 11 substandard samples detected out of 1,179 analysed.
A total of 2,066 inspections were carried out, resulting in four prosecutions and recovery of Rs 0.70 lakh in fines.
In 2023-24, just three out of 330 samples in Jammu were found substandard, with no prosecutions launched.
However, Rs 0.20 lakh was recovered in fines, and all three samples were later declared standard upon re-analysis.
During 2024-25, three defective samples were identified out of 488 tested, leading to one prosecution, though no fines were recovered.
One sample was subsequently declared standard, while the result of another remains awaited.
In 2025-26, till December, six out of 361 samples tested in Jammu were found substandard.
Authorities launched three prosecutions and recovered Rs 0.50 lakh in fines. Two samples were cleared after re-analysis, while one result is still pending.
Officials said several samples initially classified as substandard were later declared compliant after re-analysis, indicating the presence of built-in verification mechanisms in the testing process.
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