The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to bring an ordinance proposing 10 years in jail for "spitting" in food. The punishment is usually reserved for heinous crimes such as attempted murder or rape.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the Yogi Adityanath government will bring two ordinances penalising contamination of food with human waste and force all eateries to put up nameplates giving details of owners and staff. The move comes days after the Chief Minister spoke out against such "contamination" by "some groups."
The two ordinances, UP Prevention of Contamination (Consumer Right to Know) and UP Prevention of Impersonation and Anti-harmony Activities and Prohibition of Spitting were discussed in the state cabinet on Tuesday.
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The ordinance proposes punishment of around 10 years for contaminating food with human waste and spitting, as per the HT report quoting officials privy to the matter. The ordinance will also have the provisions for cancellation of licences and penalties for mixing urine or waste.
“Contaminating food with human waste and dirty matter is a grave offence and we will bring a strong law soon,” Yogi said, according to a government statement.
“It is the right of every consumer to know necessary details about food and drink sellers. Hence, all such sellers have to put up signboards. All staff will also need to have identity cards,” the statement added.
The development comes amid a controversy over allegations that some vendors were allegedly spitting on food or mixing urine in fruit juice and food.
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The proposed ordinances provide for stricter punishment against intentionally committing such acts, said a senior government official, as per the report. The strict measures will also be applicable if any illegal foreign migrants are found working at the eateries, added the official.
Currently, death due to food adulteration amounts to three years of punishment. Complaints about food adulteration are currently handled by multiple agencies, including police food and civil supplies and food and drugs department etc in the state.