HC rule on govt

The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to appoint a public food analyst and set up a food court at every district in the country as per provisions of Pure Food Ordinance 1959 for ensuring pure food and safety of public health.
An HC bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Mamtazuddin Ahmed issued the rule upon a petition filed as a public interest litigation by Manzill Murshid, a lawyer of the Supreme Court.
Local government and rural development (LGRD) minister acting as chairman of National Food Advisory Council, joint secretary (admin) of the LGRD, and the secretaries to the ministries of law, health and food were asked to reply to the rule within two weeks.
Earlier on January 18, the HC, upon a writ petition filed by the same petitioner, issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to constitute the National Food Safety Advisory Council as per provisions of Pure Food Ordinance 1959 for obtaining appropriate advices and policies related to food safety and quality control.
As the government replied to the HC rule stating that the government in 2005 has constituted the National Food Advisory Council as per provisions of Pure Food Ordinance 1959, Manzill Murshid yesterday filed a supplementary petition with the HC to direct the government to appoint a public food analyst and set up a food court at every district.
Manzill Murshid himself moved the petition, while deputy attorney general Karunamoy Chakma stood for the government.