Strict Guidelines Introduced by Uttarakhand Government

The Uttarakhand government has implemented new guidelines to curb the act of “spitting in food,” with offenders facing fines of up to Rs 1 lakh. These regulations were issued by the state’s police and health departments after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned such actions as “thook jihad” and vowed to take strict measures.

Police Verification and CCTV Installation Made Mandatory

The guidelines mandate that all staff working in hotels and dhabas undergo police verification. Additionally, the installation of CCTV cameras in kitchens is now compulsory to ensure proper monitoring. These measures were introduced after recent incidents where two men in Mussoorie were arrested for spitting into fruit juice glasses, and a viral video from Dehradun showed a cook spitting while preparing dough.

Focus on Food Safety During Festive Season

Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat emphasized that food safety and purity are top priorities, especially during the festival season. Following the Chief Minister’s directives, Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar instructed district police chiefs to collaborate with local intelligence units to prevent such incidents, particularly at kiosks and pushcarts.

Random Checks and Enhanced Patrolling

Police have been asked to conduct random checks in hotels and dhabas, working in coordination with the Health and Food Departments. Enhanced patrolling will also focus on preventing food contamination and ensuring compliance with the new regulations.

Legal Consequences for Offenders

The DGP stated that offenders would be charged under Section 274 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita for food adulteration and Section 81 of the Uttarakhand Police Act for public nuisance or spreading false alarms. If such actions harm religious or ethnic sentiments, additional charges under Section 196(1)(B) (promoting enmity) or Section 299 (insulting religious beliefs) may be applied.

Standard Operating Procedure and Fines

State Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enforce fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh for offenders, further ensuring strict compliance with the new guidelines.