| Abstract: |
A metropolitan court fined more than 200 traders Rs 1 lakh each for keeping and selling substandard food products, in food adulteration cases that were more than a decade old. The court punished shopkeepers, restaurant owners etc., holding them guilty of violating the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, even though they were absent during court proceedings. The court was angry at the accused persons' absence and observed, "Law and courts in any country must not feel so helpless at accused persons remaining untraceable for years together and spending a lifetime without attending court proceedings. Courts should not remain quiet in waiting for their presence. |
