Government: Raids till hotels fall in line

The government is going all out to ensure that the hotels in the state serve quality food to the people. With this aim, the ongoing raids on hotels and food outlets will continue, Health Minister V S Sivakumar told  the Assembly on Friday.


The  Minister said that considering the gravity of the situation, the Food Safety Commissioner had been directed to conduct inspections in hotels in the state. Raids were carried out in 511 hotels so far and 14 out of them were ordered to down shutters.


Sivakumar said a meeting convened by the Chief Minister on Thursday had decided to appoint Deputy Collectors as adjudicating officers in all districts to initiate action against those found guilty of violating the provisions of the Food Safety Standard Act. The Act lists out a jail term from six months to six years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakh for those who are behind food poisoning.


In case of death due to food poisoning, the jail term for hoteliers will be a minimum of seven years to life imprisonment in addition to a fine of  Rs10 lakh.