The Madras High Court has directed the government to ensure that all milk vans are fitted with lactometers and other equipment within four months to test the milk quality at procurement points.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice J. Nisha Banu, passed the order recently on a PIL by Kumar, president of TYD Co-operative Milk Producers Society in Tuticorin district.
The bench directed the Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Development Department and the Managing Director of Co-operative Milk Producers Federation in Madhavaram to comply with its direction within four months from the date of receipt of the order.
The petitioner sought a direction to the officials to ensure transparency in society-wise milk collection through installation of milk scanner and weighing machines in vans. The bench said, “Milk is an essential commodity. The ultimate consumers are primarily children, apart from the sick, the convalescent and others in need of nutrition. The consumers have a right to be supplied with milk of requisite standard.”
“Testing the quality of milk by use of lactometer takes minutes and we are unable to accept the submission that such devices cannot be installed, because it will cause delay,” the court said.