Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Food Safety Cadre Association Jammu has objected to draft J&K Drugs & Food Services (gazette) Recruitment Rules and appealed the Government not to degrade the post of Commissioner of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
The Association in a memorandum submitted simultaneously to Secretary, General Administration Department, Secretary Law, Advisor to Lt Governor and Chief Secretary stated that the amendment made in J&K Drugs and Food Services (Gazetted) Recruitment Rules drafted by Administrative Department is in a very hurry to give undue benefit to the drug wing by ignoring various important issues viz nomenclature and even High Court direction in the PIL titled Initiating Suo Motu Action versus State and others and also violating FSS Act and Rules made there under.
“As per Rule 2.1.1 of FSS Rules 2011, no person below the rank of Commissioner and Secretary to state Government shall be eligible for the appointment as the Commissioner of Food Safety whereas in the draft Recruitment rules, the State drug Controller has been projected for promotion to the post of Commissioner, FDA, who is otherwise has to perform statutory duties as per FSS Act,” the Association said in its memorandum and urged the Government not to allow degradation of the post of Commissioner FDA.
The Association said that vide Government Order No 527-HME of 2019 dated 4-6-2019, sanction has been accorded after obtaining approval from the State Administrative Council that the State Drug Controller and Joint Commissioner Food Safety shall have to report to Commissioner FDA J&K whereas in the draft Recruitment Rules, the Joint Commissioner Food Safety has not been made eligible for promotion to the post of Commissioner FDA, who is the only eligible candidate to perform the statutory duties of the post of Commissioner FDA.
It further submitted that the nomenclature of Food Inspector, Public Analyst and Assistant controller (PFA) as mentioned in the repealed PFA Act has not been changed in the proposed Recruitment Rules despite directions from High Court, Srinagar in various writ petitions.
The Association appealed the J&K administration to look into all these issues before finalization of the Recruitment Rules which are otherwise against the Food Safety cadre.
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