Newdelhi: The Congress on Monday criticised the Modi government after the Maharashtra government moved the Bombay High Court against several food safety regulations. Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh asked whether Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was sending a subtle message to the establishment in New Delhi.
Ramesh said the NDA government in Maharashtra had challenged the Modi government in the high court by alleging that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India was violating the Constitution. He noted that the Maharashtra chief minister and other leaders from NDA-ruled states had previously remained silent when opposition-led states raised concerns over the centralisation of power, citing recent legislative amendments.
The dispute centres on a legal challenge filed through the State Commissioner of Food Safety, which claims the national food safety authority unconstitutionally established a parallel enforcement system that infringes upon state authority. The petition argues that the foundational legislation was designed to maintain a decentralised framework managed through state commissioners and designated officers.
According to the court filing, subsequent amendments have progressively eroded the decentralised regime. The state government's plea contends that federal authorities unlawfully introduced roles such as central food safety officers and central licensing authorities that lack statutory backing under the original legal framework.
Maharashtra has requested that the high court set aside the disputed amendments and regulations, alongside seeking an interim stay on a May 2023 directive that prevents state officials from inspecting centrally licensed facilities. The challenge has drawn political attention, with the opposition questioning the sudden pushback from an NDA-led state administration against central oversight.