Uttarakhand Government’s Guidelines for ‘Spit Jihad’ | 17 Oct 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand government introduced new guidelines aimed at curbing food contamination incidents involving spitting, addressing growing concerns around food safety during the festive season.

Key Points

• Strict Fines Imposed: A fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh will be imposed on offenders who contaminate food by spitting or committing similar offenses.
  • The guidelines come after recent viral incidents, including videos from Mussoorie and Dehradun where individuals were caught spitting in food items, triggering public outrage.
• Police Verification and CCTV: Hotels and eateries are now required to conduct police verification for their staff, and the installation of CCTV cameras in kitchens is mandatory.
  • Authorities will run awareness campaigns to educate the public and businesses about maintaining food safety standards.
• Health Department Involvement: The Health and Food Safety departments will assist police in random inspections and checks at eateries to ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Legal Action: Offenders could be charged under multiple legal provisions, including sections related to public nuisance and food adulteration under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007.
• Zero Tolerance for Religious Sensitivities: If the act affects religion or community harmony, additional charges under BNS section 196 (promoting enmity) could be applied