High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeProsecution-quashed; connected Cr.M.Cs allowed;...

Dharampal Satyapal Limited v. State of Kerala and The Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:CRL.M.C. No. 9210/2023; CRL.M.C. No. 8510/2023; CRL.M.C. No. 8244/2023; CRL.M.C. No. 7809/2023

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Bechu Kurian Thomas
Judgment Date
2024-03-06
Court Decision / Holding
The petitions are allowed; the prosecutions in S.T. No. 622/2015, 623/2015, 624/2015 before the CJM Palakkad and S.T. No. 52/2016 are quashed; the four connected Cr.M.Cs are allowed; the cognizance and sanction orders are set aside.
Final Disposition
Prosecution-quashed; connected Cr.M.Cs allowed; cognizance and sanction orders set aside.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Dharampal Satyapal Limited

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala
  • The Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of Kerala, Palakkad Circle

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Deepak Dhingra
  • • Anil D. Nair
  • • Telma Raju
  • • Anjana A.
  • • Aaditya Nair

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Grashious KuriaKose
  • • Sreeja V.
  • • T. R. Ranjith

Case Synopsis & Summary

These connected criminal miscellaneous petitions challenge four prosecutions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 against the petitioner in Palakkad for alleged violations regarding pan masala and related products, including nicotine/tobacco content and magnesium carbonate as an anticaking agent. The petitions question the cognizance taken by the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the sanction for prosecution, contending that cognizance was beyond the one-year time limit prescribed by Section 77 of the Act and that the extension to three years was not properly/meaningfully supported. The Commissioner of Food Safety had sanctioned the prosecution after condoning the delay on grounds described as “procedural and administrational delay,” but the petition contends that no specific, testable reasons were supplied for the delay. The respondents argue that the time limit under Section 77 is to be treated as a flexible outer limit, with Section 41(2) of the Act and Cr.P.C provisions (Sections 468 and 473) potentially applicable, and that reasons to extend may be recorded in writing. The High Court undertakes a textual and doctrinal reading of Section 77, emphasizing that reasons must be stated in writing and that vague references cannot sustain an extension. It ultimately holds that the delay was substantial and inadequately explained, quashing the prosecutions in all connected cases.

Provisions of Law Cited

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 - Section 77 (Time limit for prosecutions)Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 - Section 41(2)Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 - Sections 3(zz)(v), 26(2)(i), 27(2)(c) and Section 59 (read with Regulation 3.1.7(1) of the Food Safety Regulations, 2011)Regulation 3.1.7(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011Cr.P.C. - Sections 468 and 473

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Penal statutes are to be interpreted strictly
  • Reasons for extending the period must be recorded in writing and must be testable for relevance/sufficiency
  • Administrative difficulties cannot be a blanket reason to condone delay (Simplex Infrastructure Ltd. v. UOI)
  • As far as may be, Cr.P.C. provisions apply only where the Act is silent; the Act’s specific provisions prevail
  • A bonafide effort and reasonable explanations are expected for delays; failure to provide specific causes undermines validity

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners argued that the time limit for taking cognizance under the Food Safety Act is one year, with a possible extension up to three years only upon reasons in writing recorded by the Commissioner. The sanction order dated 11.08.2015 condoning delay stated vaguely as ‘procedural and administrational delay’ lacked the precise factual basis required by law. The petitioners contended that Magnesium Carbonate presence in pan masala does not automatically justify delay or legal extension, and that the authorities failed to explain the delay with material particulars. They invoked Madras High Court decisions and other authorities to assert that administrative delays cannot be used as a blanket justification, and that the extension must be narrowly construed and strictly tested for legality and proportionality. The petition thus seeks quashing of cognizance and sanction orders on grounds of violation of the statutory framework and due process.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contended that Section 77’s outer time limit is not to be read rigidly as a technical bar; it allows a discretionary extension up to three years with reasons in writing. They argued that the delay was caused by procedural and administrative factors and that the provisions of Cr.P.C, particularly Sections 468 and 473, apply to extend time as far as possible. They relied on Arun Vyas and Anita Vyas to support extending the period, and argued that administrative difficulties can be considered to ensure justice, consistent with State of UP v. Amar Nath Yadav and Simplex Infrastructure Ltd v. UOI. They asserted that a narrow interpretation would stifle proceedings and that the sanction order complied with statutory requirements, making cognizance valid.

Cited Precedents (6)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Arun Vyas and another v. Anita Vyas(1999) 4 SCC 690PositiveThe court relied on this authority to discuss the interpretation of extensions under the Act and the need for written reasons.
State of Uttar Pradesh v. Amar Nath Yadav(2014) 2 SCC 422PositiveCited to emphasize the obligation of reasonable explanations for delay and diligence by government departments.
Simplex Infrastructure Limited v. Union of India(2019) 2 SCC 455PositiveCited to illustrate that administrative difficulties cannot be a valid reason to condone delay.
Mondelez India Foods Private Limited and Others v. A. ElankovO.P. No. 17767/2018PositiveCited to support the view that certain administrative delays (e.g., address identification) cannot be treated as valid reasons.
P. Paneer Selvam and Others v. Sri JaganadhanMANU/TN/1979/2022PositiveUsed to corroborate the stance against condoning delays without proper justification.
Madras High Court decisions cited (Crl.R.P. No. 17767/2018; Crl.O.P. No.18881/2016; Crl.O.P. No.18875/2016)Crl.R.P. No.17767/2018; Crl.O.P. No.18881/2016; Crl.O.P. No.18875/2016PositiveMadras High Court decisions cited to illustrate that administrative delays require specific justification and cannot be treated as valid administrative reasons.

Diagnostic Tool

Beta

Does this judgment govern your specific facts?

Don't risk relying on a distinguishable precedent. Enter your facts or proposition below. We will test it against Dharampal Satyapal Limited v. State of Kerala and The Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of Kerala and instantly map out authorities that support, challenge, or govern your position.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

# **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS WEDNESDAY, THE 6[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 16TH PHALGUNA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 9210 OF 2023** **AGAINST ST NO.622 OF 2015 OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE PALAKKAD** ## **PETITIONER/ACCUSED:** **DHARAMPALSATYAPAL LIMITED 98, OKHALA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PHASE III, NEW DELHI PIN - 110002 THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SHIVAKUMAR V.R., SENIOR MANAGER, BY ADVS. SRI.DEEPAK DHINGRA SRI.ANIL D. NAIR ADV.AADITYA NAIR SMT.TELMA RAJU** ## **RESPONDENTS/COMPLAINANTS:** **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, PALAKKAD CIRCLE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, PIN - 650014 BY ADVS. SRI.GRASHIOUS KURIAKOSE, ADGP SMT.SREEJA V., PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28/02/2024, ALONG WITH Crl.MC Nos.8510/2023, 8244/2023 AND 7809/2023, THE COURT ON 06.03.2024 PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** **-:2:-** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS** **WEDNESDAY, THE 6[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 16TH PHALGUNA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 8510 OF 2023** **AGAINST ST NO.52 OF 2016 OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE PALAKKAD** ## **PETITIONER/ACCUSED:** **DHARAMPAL SATYAPAL LIMITED 98, OKHALA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PHASE III, NEW DELHI PIN - 110020 THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SIVAKUMAR. V.R, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, BY ADVS. SRI.DEEPAK DHINGRA SRI.ANIL D. NAIR SMT.TELMA RAJU SMT.ANJANA A. ADV.AADITYA NAIR** ## **RESPONDENTS:** - **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031** **2 THE COMMISSIONER OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, PALAKKAD CIRCLE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, PIN - 695014 BY ADVS. SRI.GRASHIOUS KURIAKOSE, ADGP SMT.SREEJA V., PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION** **ON 28/02/2024, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.9210/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON 06.03.2024 PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** **-:3:-** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS WEDNESDAY, THE 6[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 16TH PHALGUNA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 8244 OF 2023** **AGAINST ST NO.623 OF 2015 OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE PALAKKAD** ## **PETITIONER/ACCUSED:** **DHARAMPAL SATYAPAL LIMITED 98, OKHALA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PHASE III, NEW DELHI PIN - 110020 THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SIVAKUMAR. V.R, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER,** **BY ADVS. SRI.DEEPAK DHINGRA SRI.ANIL D. NAIR SMT.TELMA RAJU SMT.ANJANA A. ADV.AADITYA NAIR** ## **RESPONDENTS:** **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031** **2 THE COMMISSIONER OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, PALAKKAD CIRCLE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, PIN - 695014 BY ADVS. SRI.GRASHIOUS KURIAKOSE, ADGP SRI.T.R.RANJITH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION** **ON 28/02/2024, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.9210/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON 06.03.2024 PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:4:-** ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS WEDNESDAY, THE 6[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 16TH PHALGUNA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 7809 OF 2023** **AGAINST ST NO.624 OF 2015 OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE PALAKKAD** **PETITIONER:** **DHARAMPAL SATYAPAL LIMITED 98, OKHALA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PHASE III, NEW DELHI PIN - 110020 THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SIVAKUMAR. V.R, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, BY ADVS. SRI.DEEPAK DHINGRA SRI.ANIL D. NAIR SMT.TELMA RAJU SMT.ANJANA A. ADV.AADITYA NAIR** ## **RESPONDENTS:** **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA., PIN - 695014 BY ADVS. SRI.GRASHIOUS KURIAKOSE, ADGP SMT.SREEJA V., PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION** **ON 28/02/2024, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.9210/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON 06.03.2024 PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:5:-** **“C.R.”** ## **BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J.** **---------------------------------------Crl.M.(C) No.9210, 8510, 8244 & 7809 of 2023 ------------------------------------------** Dated this the 6[th] day of March, 2024 ## **ORDER** The question to be resolved is whether the time limit prescribed under section 77 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (for brevity, ‘the Act’) for taking cognizance of offences under the Act can be extended on the basis that the delay occurred due to ‘procedural and administrative reasons’. 2. Petitioner is a manufacturer of pan masala and is the accused in four criminal cases pending as S.T. No.622/2015, S.T. No.623/2015, S.T. No.624/2015 & S.T. No.52/2016, all before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, Palakkad. The prosecutions have been initiated alleging violation of sections 3(zz)(v), 26(2)(i), 27(2)(c) and section 59 of the Act, read with regulation 3.1.7(1) of the Food Safety and Standards and (Food Products Standards and Additives) Regulations, 2011, (for short the Regulation). These four criminal miscellaneous cases filed under section 482 of Cr.P.C have challenged the prosecution of the petitioner in the above-referred four cases. Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:6:-** 3. In all the above cases except one, the product pan masala was on analysis, detected with Magnesium Carbonate, while in S.T. No.52/2016, the product was a mouth freshener called Pass-Pass, which was found to contain Magnesium Carbonate and Monosodium Glutamate. Both parties to this litigation agreed that Crl.M.C No. 9210 of 2023 can be treated as the leading case, and hence, the facts of the said case are referred to hereunder, unless otherwise indicated. 4. On 28-04-2013, a consignment of Pan Masala sold under the brand name 'Rajanigandha' was seized at the Kerala check post, alleging that they contained tobacco and nicotine, the sale of which is prohibited in Kerala. After registration of different crimes before the Walayar Police Station, the samples were sent for chemical analysis. The report of the Food Analyst dated 20.09.2013 showed the test for nicotine and tobacco as negative. However, Magnesium Carbonate was detected in small quantities in the product. 5. On the basis of the aforenoted report dated 20-09-2013, the Designated Officer issued a letter dated 21.03.2015 seeking sanction for prosecuting the petitioner. By order dated 11.08.2015, the Commissioner of Food Safety, Kerala (hereafter referred to as ‘Commissioner’ for short) issued an order sanctioning prosecution after condoning the delay. The reason for condoning the delay was stated as due to “procedural and administrational delay”. Pursuant to the above sanction, a complaint was Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:7:-** filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on 22-09-2015 and cognizance of the offence was taken and process was issued to the petitioner. 6. Petitioner questioned the order, taking cognizance as well as the order granting sanction for prosecution in Crl.M.C. No.4277/2022. A learned single Judge of this Court, by order dated 15.07.2022, set aside the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate dated 11-01-2016 and directed reconsideration. In the peculiar circumstances of the case, the petitioner was also granted an opportunity to be heard. Pursuant to the above direction, the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate considered the matter afresh and, by the impugned order dated 20.07.2023, held that the prosecution had made out sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused. 7. Sri.Deepak Dhingra, learned counsel for the petitioner along with Adv. Telma Raju contended that though the initial seizure of the pan masala was on the allegation that the product contained nicotine and tobacco, after the analysis, the Detecting Officer turned around and made fresh allegations on the basis of the presence of Magnesium Carbonate. According to the learned counsel, Magnesium Carbonate is only an anticaking agent, the presence of which occurs naturally due to the ingredients in pan masala, and the same is not within the control of the petitioner. Learned Counsel, however, confined his submissions to the Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:8:-** manner in which the Commissioner condoned the delay and contended that the reason provided in the order of the Commissioner dated 11.08.2015 falls miserably short of any reason and the impugned order had even failed to comprehend the spirit of the direction of this Court in Crl.M.C. No.4277/2022. The learned counsel relied upon the decisions of the Madras High Court in Crl.R.P. No.17767/2018, Crl.O.P. No.18881/2016 and Crl.O.P. No.18875/2016 to substantiate his contentions. 8. Sri. Grashious Kuriakose, the learned Additional Director General of Prosecution, submitted that the time limit prescribed under section 77 of the Act provides an outer time limit of three years and that a narrow interpretation ought not to be adopted as it would stifle prosecutions under the Act. According to the learned Senior Counsel, the period prescribed therein should be treated as guidance and not as a mandatory requirement. It was further submitted that in the light of section 41(2) of the Act, provisions of sections 468 and 473 of the Cr.P.C are applicable, and hence the delay can always be explained and condoned in the interests of justice. The decision in **Arun Vyas and Another v. Anita Vyas** [(1999) 4 SCC 690] was relied upon to support his contentions. 9. To resolve the question mentioned in the exordium to this judgment, it is necessary to refer to section 77 of the Act, which provides a time limit of one year for taking cognizance of the offence. The said provision, after prescribing a time limit of one year for prosecutions, carves Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:9:-** out a proviso, enabling the said time limit to be extended upto three years, provided reasons are given in writing by the Commissioner for such extension. For the purpose of better comprehension, section 77 of the Act is extracted as below: “ **S.77. Time limit for prosecutions.** - Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act after the expiry of the period of one year from the date of commission of an offence: Provided that the Commissioner of Food Safety may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, approve prosecution within an extended period of up to three years.” 10. In Annexure A14, it is seen that an FIR was registered on 28.04.2013 after the pan masala manufactured by the petitioner was seized. Though the seized articles were subjected to an analysis and a report dated 20.09.2013 was received, the Designated Officer issued a letter to the Commissioner of Food Safety seeking sanction for prosecution only on 21.03.2015. By that time itself, a period of one year and six months had elapsed. Thereafter, by order dated 11.8.2015, the Commissioner granted sanction to launch the prosecution. Another five months had elapsed by then. The reason recorded in writing in the order dated 11.08.2015 by the Commissioner of Food Safety reads as follows: “ _In this case since the period of commission of offence is (sic) exceeds one year, an extended period upto 30.09.2015 is sanctioned under section 77 of FSS Act 2006 to launch prosecution by the Food Safety Officer. The reason for according_ Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:10:-** ## _extension of period is due to procedural and administrational delay.”_ 11. Thus, the only reason mentioned to explain the delay is the procedural and administrational delay. There is a complete absence of any explanation of what is the procedural delay. No material has been referred to in the order of the Commissioner to explain the nature of the administrational delay or the factors responsible for such a delay. 12. The words ‘procedural and administrational delay’ are too vague and obscure terms to be regarded as an explanation or as reasons for delay. Those terms cannot signify a reason and are only broad terminologies used to denote a title for the delay and not anything of relevance or significance. When the statute expressly requires reasons to be stated in writing, it mandates a precise reference to the causes for the delay, which can be tested on the touchstone of relevancy or sufficiency by a court of law. 13. The terms procedural and administrative delay have been the subject of consideration by the courts under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1963. In **State of Uttar Pradesh v. Amar Nath Yadav** [(2014) 2 SCC 422], the Supreme Court had observed that it is time to inform all the Government bodies, their agencies and instrumentalities that unless they have reasonable and acceptable explanations for the delay, and there was a bonafide effort, there is no need to accept the usual explanation that the file was kept pending for several months/years due to considerable degree Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:11:-** of procedural red-tapism in the process. The Government departments are under a special obligation to ensure that they perform their duty with diligence and commitment. Similarly, in the decision **Simplex Infrastructure Limited v. Union of India** [(2019) 2 SCC 455] Supreme Court observed that administrative difficulties cannot be a valid reason to condone delay. 14. Section 77 of the Act, which stipulates that prosecutions must be launched within a period of one year, has significance. It entails the Food Inspectors to act swiftly and without delay. It is also a measure of fair and reasonable procedure prescribed under law before depriving the liberty of an individual. When the statute prescribes a period of limitation and carves out an exception from the main provision, the conditions required to fall within the exception must be strictly adhered to. The principle that penal statutes are to be interpreted strictly also has to be followed. Therefore, as a measure of depriving the liberty of an individual when the statute provides certain conditions to be satisfied, there cannot be any scope for a liberal interpretation. The requirement for giving reasons in writing enables the court to review whether the stated reasons for extending the time for prosecution are legally and factually justifiable or not. 15. In the instant case, the letter from the Designated Officer was issued after a delay of 18 months. A further delay of five months from Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:12:-** 21.03.2015 to 11.08.2015 at the office of the Commissioner has also not been explained. The aforenoted delay is substantial and beyond the period stipulated for taking cognizance. The reason for such a long delay has not been indicated at all. In the absence of any reason for such a long delay, the sanction becomes legally invalid. In the above circumstances, this Court is of the view that the Commissioner had failed to record any reason worth its name to extend the period stipulated under section 77 of the Act for sanctioning the prosecution. 16. This Court is fortified in the above conclusion by the decisions of the Madras High Court in **Mondelez India Foods Private Limited and Others v. A.Elankov** (O.P. No.17767/2018), and that in **P.Paneer Selvam and Others v. Sri. Jaganadhan** MANU/TN/1979/2022. In the former decision, the Court observed that the delay caused in identifying the address of the accused could not be treated as a valid administrative reason. In the latter decision, another learned Single Judge observed that the reference to administrative reasons without explaining the reason for the delay is not sufficient to condone the delay. 17. Though the contention of the respondents regarding the applicability of sections 468 and 473 was impressive, it is evident, on a deeper scrutiny, that the said contention has no merit. The provisions of Cr.P.C are made applicable as per section 41(2) of the Act. However, the applicability is “as far as may be” and not in its entirety. The words “as far Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:13:-** as may be” indicate that the provisions of Cr.P.C. will apply only in the absence of specific provisions in the Act. It is elementary that the general law cannot override the specific provisions. When the Act stipulates that the prosecution has to be launched within one year and the period can be extended only for reasons to be recorded in writing, recourse to sections 468 and 473 of Cr.P.C, which are general provisions, is not legally permissible. Further, extension of the period of limitation merely on the ground that it is necessary to do so in the interest of justice and not on the grounds of explained delay would be improper. 18. The learned Magistrate had mechanically issued the impugned order without comprehending the purpose for which this Court remitted the matter back to it. No reasons are forthcoming from the impugned order as to the reason for condoning the delay. 19. Viewed in the above perspective, the proceedings initiated against the petitioner in S.T. No.622/2015, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Palakkad is liable to be quashed. Ordered accordingly. **Crl.M.C No. 8244/2023 and Crl.M.C No. 7809/2023** 20. The proceedings in S.T. No.623/2015 and S.T. No.624/2015 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Palakkad, which are challenged in the above two cases, are also identically placed as that in ST. No. 622/2015. The product involved, the date of detection and the report, apart from the letters and sanction order, are also the same. The reason Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:14:-** specified in the sanction orders is identical to that in S.T. No.622/2015. Hence, the challenges raised in Crl.M.C No. 8244/2023 and Crl.M.C No. 7809/2023 are also to be allowed. 21. Thus, the complaints filed in S.T. No.623/2015 (Annexure A14 in Crl.M.C No. 8244/2023) and S.T. No.624/2015 (Annexure A14 in Crl.M.C No. 7809/2023) before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Palakkad are hereby quashed. ## **Crl.M.C No. 8510/2023** 22. Petitioner challenges the prosecution initiated in ST No. 52/2016 on the files of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Palakkad. The product involved is a mouth freshener under the brand name Pass-Pass, manufactured by the petitioner. As in the other cases, the products were seized, alleging that they contained tobacco and nicotine, but when the samples were sent for chemical analysis, the report dated 17-10-2013 showed the test for nicotine and tobacco as negative but revealed the presence of Magnesium Carbonate and Monosodium Glutamate. Thereafter, a letter dated 22-10-2015 was issued seeking sanction for prosecution and by order dated 16-11-2015, sanction was accorded. Pursuant thereto, the complaint was instituted, and the learned CJM took cognizance of the complaint by its order dated 25-02-2016, which is challenged in this petition under section 482 Cr.P.C. 23. In Annexure 2 order granting sanction for prosecution, the Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:15:-** Commissioner has extended the period for the following reason: “ _Therefore considering that the need for extension of period is due to the various procedural and adminstrational delay and insufficient staff strength of department an extended time up to 30-12-2015 from the date of commission of the offence is sanctioned to Food Safety Officer for filing prosecution_ ”. The only difference from the other cases already considered is the addition of the words 'insufficient staff strength of the department’ in the present case. 24. The analyst report in the instant case is dated 17-10-2013, while the letter seeking sanction was issued only on 22-10-2015, and the sanction was accorded on 16-11-2015. The reasons for extending the period are not valid as has already been considered in the earlier three cases. Insufficient staff strength also cannot be a valid reason to extend the period. Thus, the summons issued to the petitioner in ST No.52/2016 on the files of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Palakkad, is illegal, and the court erred in taking cognizance. 25. Therefore, the order dated 25-02-2016 issuing summons to the petitioner in S.T. No.52/2016 on the files of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Palakkad, is hereby quashed. These criminal miscellaneous cases are allowed. **Sd/-** **BECHU KURIAN THOMAS JUDGE** vps Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:16:-** ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 9210/2023** |**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**|**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**| |---|---| |**Annexure-A-1**|**COPY OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED**| ||**20.7.2023 PASSED BY CHIEF JUDICIAL**| ||**MAGISTRATE, PALAKKAD IN S.T. NO. 622 OF**| ||**2015**| |**Annexure-A-2**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 22.5.2012**| ||**PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2**| |**Annexure 3**|**TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR DATED 25.5.2012**| ||**ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2 WITH TYPED**| ||**COPY**| |**Annexure A 3 (a)**|**TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR DATED 29.5.2012**| ||**ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2 WITH TYPED**| ||**COPY**| |**Annexure-A-4**|**TRUE COPY OF WRIT PETITION NO.**| ||**12932/2012 FILED BY THE PETITIONER**| ||**BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT**| |**Annexure-A-5**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 2ND**| ||**AUGUST, 2012 IN W.P. (C) NO.12932 OF**| ||**2012 (N) PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT**| |**Annexure-A-6**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 3RD OCTOBER,**| ||**2012 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN**| ||**W.A. NO. 1685/2012 IN W.P. (C) NO.**| ||**12932/2012**| |**Annexure-A-7**|**TRUE COPY OF THE FIR NO. 524/2013 DATED**| ||**28TH APRIL, 2013**| |**Annexure-A-8**|**TRUE COPY OF THE W.P. NO. 14199/2013**| ||**FILED BY THE PETITIONER.**| |**Annexure-A-9**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 8TH JULY,**| ||**2013 IN W.P. (C) NO.14199 OF 2013 (Y)**| ||**PASSED BY THE HON'BLE SINGLE JUDGE OF**| ||**THIS HON'BLE COURT**| |**Annexure-A-10**|**TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT DATED 29TH**| ||**OCTOBER, 2013 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE**| ||**COURT IN W.A. NO. 1186/2013**| |**Annexure-A-11**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN CRL. M. P.**| ||**4625/ 2013 OF CRIME NO. 524/2013 DATED**| ||**7TH AUGUST, 2013 PASSED BY THE COURT OF**| ||**LEARNED MAGISTRATE**| |**Annexure-A-12**|**TRUE COPY OF FORM-VA DATED 7TH**| ||**SEPTEMBER, 2013 ISSUED BY THE**| ||**RESPONDENT NO.2**| |**Annexure-A-13**|**TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT SIGNED ON 20TH**| Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:17:-** - **SEPTEMBER, 2013 BY THE FOOD ANALYST.** - **Annexure-A-14 COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11TH AUGUST, 2015 BEARING NO. DE 1448/2015/CFS ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.** - **Annexure-A-15 COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2 ON 22ND SEPTEMBER 2015, IN THE COURT OF LD. CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE.** - **Annexure-A-16 COPY OF THE ORDER IN ST 622/ 2015 DATED 11.1.2016 PASSED BY THE LD. COURT OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, PALAKKAD** - **Annexure-A-17 COPY OF COMPLETE ORDER SHEET IN ST 622/ 2015 FROM 18/11/2015 TILL 17/2/2022 OF THE LD. COURT OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, PALAKKAD.** - **Annexure-A-18 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 08TH OCTOBER, 2021 IN W.P. (C) NO.5342/2021 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI AT ASSAM.** - **Annexure-A-18(a) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 21.09.2016 IN CRIMINAL REVISION NO.263 OF 2016 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF UTTRAKHAND AT NAINITAL.** - **Annexure-A-19 A TRUE COPY OF THE COUNTER AFFIDAVIT FILED BY UNION OF INDIA BEFORE THE DIVISION BENCH OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAD IN W.P. (C) NO.3346 OF 2022.** - **Annexure-A-19(a) TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 28.8.2023 PASSED BY DIVISION BENCH OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAD IN W.P. (C) NO.3346 OF 2022.** - **Annexure-A-20 TRUE COPY OF CRIMINAL MISC. CASE NO. 4277/2022 FILED BY PETITIONER BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT.** - **Annexure-A-21 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 15.7.2022 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN CRL. M.C. NO. 4277 OF 2022 .** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:18:-** ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 8510/2023** ## **PETITIONER ANNEXURES** |**Annexure 1**|**TRUE COPY OF PROCEEDINGS OF CHIEF**| |---|---| ||**JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE COURT, PALAKKD IN**| ||**CASE NO.ST/0500052/2016.**| |**Annexure 2**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 16.11.2015**| ||**ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2.**| |**Annexure 3**|**TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION BEARING**| ||**NO. 3944/13 DATED 13TH NOVEMBER, 2013**| ||**RECEIVED BY THE PETITIONER.**| |**Annexure 4**|**TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION DATED 22ND**| ||**MAY, 2012 BEARING NO. A/1327/2012/CFS**| |**Annexure 5**|**TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL FILED BY THE**| ||**PETITIONER DATED 5.12.2013.**| |**Annexure 6**|**TRUE COPY OF THE SAID ORDER DATED**| ||**21.12.2013 ISSUED BY THE DESIGNATED**| ||**OFFICER, PALAKKAD**| |**Annexure 7**|**TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED**| ||**30.1.2014 PASSED IN W.P. (C) NO.980 OF**| ||**2014**| |**Annexure 8**|**TRUE COPY OF THE WRITTEN STATEMENT**| ||**ISSUED BEFORE THE DESIGNATED OFFICER,**| ||**PALAKKAD**| |**Annexure-9**|**TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 27.8.2014**| ||**SENT BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF**| ||**FOOD SAFETY, PALAKKAD TO THE 2ND**| ||**RESPONDENT.**| |**Annexure-10**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11.2.2015**| ||**ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.**| |**Annexure-11**|**TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF**| ||**DESIGNATED-CUM-ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF**| ||**FOOD SAFETY TO THE DIRECTOR, REFERRAL**| ||**FOOD LABORATORY, KOLKOTTA**| |**Annexure-12**|**TRUE COPY OF CRL. M.C.NO.4277 OF 2022**| ||**FILED BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT**| |**Annexure-12(a)**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN CRL.**| ||**M.C.NO.4277 OF 2022 DATED 15.7.2022**| Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:19:-** ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 8244/2023** |**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**|**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**| |---|---| |**Annexure-1**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 22.05.2022**| ||**ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.**| |**Annexure-1(a)**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 25.5.2012**| ||**ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2 TO THE**| ||**DESIGNATED OFFICER.**| |**Annexure-2**|**TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR NO.A-1327/12/CPS**| ||**DATED 29.05.2012 ISSUED BY THE 2ND**| ||**RESPONDENT.**| |**Annexure-3**|**TRUE COPY OF THE WRIT PETITION NO.12932**| ||**OF 2012**| |**Annexure-4**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 2.8.2012 IN**| ||**W.P.(C) NOS. 12932/2012.**| |**Annexure-5**|**TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 3RD**| ||**OCTOBER, 2012 IN W.A. NO.1685/2012**| |**Annexure-6**|**TRUE COPY OF THE FIR NO. 524/2013 DATED**| ||**28TH APRIL, 2013**| |**Annexure-7**|**TRUE COPY OF THE WRIT PETITION NO.14199**| ||**OF 2013**| |**Annexure-8**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 8.7.2013**| ||**IN WRIT PETITION NO.14199 OF 2013**| |**Annexure-9**|**TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 29TH**| ||**OCTOBER, 2013 IN W.A. NO.1186 OF 2013**| |**Annexure-10**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 7TH**| ||**AUGUST, 2013 PASSED BY THE COURT OF**| ||**LEARNED MAGISTRATE**| |**Annexure-11**|**TRUE COPY OF COPY OF FORM - VA DATED**| ||**7TH SEPTEMBER, 2013 WHICH SHOWS**| ||**COLLECTION OF SAMPLES FROM THE COURT**| |**Annexure-12**|**TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT ON 20TH**| ||**SEPTEMBER, 2013 OF THE ANALYST.**| |**Annexure-13**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11TH**| ||**AUGUST,**<br>**2015**<br>**BEARING**<br>**NO.**<br>**DE**| ||**1453/2015/CFS ISSUED BY 2ND RESPONDENT**| |**Annexure-14**|**TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE**| ||**RESPONDENT NO. 2 DATED 22.09.2015**| |**Annexure-15**|**TRUE COPY OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED**| ||**11/02/2016 OF THE CHIEF JUDICIAL**| ||**MAGISTRATE COURT, PALAKKAD.**| |**Annexure-16**|**TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLETE ORDER SHEET**| ||**FROM 18/11/2015 TILL 17/2/2022**| Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:20:-** **Annexure-17 TRUE COPY OF THE CHART SHOWING THE PERMITTED USE OF MGCO3 IN ITEMS OF FOOD Annexure-18 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 8TH OCTOBER, 2021 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF GUHATI AT ASSAM IN W.P.(C) NO.5342 OF 2021. Annexure-18(a) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 21.09.2016 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND IN CRIMINAL REVISION NO.263 OF 2016** Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases ## **-:21:-** ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 7809/2023** |**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**|**PETITIONER ANNEXURES**| |---|---| |**Annexure-1**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 22.05.2012**| ||**ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT**| |**Annexure-2**|**TRUE COPY OF LETTER DATED 25.5.2012**| ||**ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 2 TO THE**| ||**DESIGNATED OFFICER.**| |**Annexure-2(a)**|**TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR NO.A-1327/12/CPS**| ||**DATED 29.05.2012 ISSUED BY THE 2ND**| ||**RESPONDENT**| |**Annexure-3**|**TRUE COPY OF THE WRIT PETITION NO.12932**| ||**OF 2012**| |**Annexure-4**|**TRUE COPY OF ORDER DATED 2.8.2012 IN**| ||**W.P.(C) NOS. 12932/2012.**| |**Annexure-5**|**TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 3RD**| ||**OCTOBER, 2012 IN W.A. NO.1685/2012**| |**Annexure-6**|**TRUE COPY OF THE FIR NO. 524/2013 DATED**| ||**28TH APRIL, 2013**| |**Annexure-7**|**TRUE COPY OF THE WRIT PETITION NO.14199**| ||**OF 2013**| |**Annexure-8**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 8.7.2013**| ||**IN WRIT PETITION NO.14199 OF 2013**| |**Annexure-9**|**TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 29TH**| ||**OCTOBER, 2013 IN W.A. NO.1186 OF 2013**| |**Annexure-10**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 7TH**| ||**AUGUST, 2013 PASSED BY THE COURT OF**| ||**LEARNED MAGISTRATE**| |**Annexure-11**|**TRUE COPY OF COPY OF FORM - VA DATED**| ||**7TH SEPTEMBER, 2013 WHICH SHOWS**| ||**COLLECTION OF SAMPLES FROM THE COURT**| |**Annexure-12**|**TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT ON 12TH**| ||**SEPTEMBER, 2013 OF THE ANALYST.**| |**Annexure-13**|**TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11TH**| ||**AUGUST,**<br>**2015**<br>**BEARING**<br>**NO.**<br>**DE**| ||**1453/2015/CFS ISSUED BY 2ND RESPONDENT.**| |**Annexure-14**|**TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE**| ||**RESPONDENT NO. 2**| |**Annexure-15**|**TRUE COPY OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED**| ||**11/02/2016 OF THE CHIEF JUDICIAL**| ||**MAGISTRATE COURT, PALAKKAD.**| |**Annexure-16**|**TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLETE ORDER SHEET**| ||**FROM 18/11/2015 TILL 17/2/2022**| Crl.M.C. No.9210/23 & Conn. Cases **-:22:-** **Annexure-17 TRUE COPY OF THE CHART SHOWING THE PERMITTED USE OF MGCO3 IN ITEMS OF FOOD Annexure-18 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11TH OCTOBER, 2021 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF GUHATI AT ASSAM IN W.P.(C) NO.5342 OF 2021. Annexure-18(a) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 21.09.2016 PASSED BY HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND IN CRIMINAL REVISION NO.263 OF 2016**