<p>The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved an ordinance that has a provision for life sentence for those found guilty of food and drug adulteration in the state, an official said.</p>.<p>A separate section has been introduced in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to provide for five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both for those selling food items beyond their expiry date.</p>.<p>The Penal Laws (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, was cleared at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who described adulteration of food items and medicines as a "dreadful crime", said the Public Relations Department official.</p>.<p>Earlier, a bill to this effect was cleared by the cabinet but it could not be introduced in the assembly as its three-day winter session, scheduled to start from December 28, was postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.</p>.<p>In this backdrop, the BJP government took the ordinance route to notify the law aimed at checking adulteration of food and drugs in the state.</p>.<p>The law on food adulteration was among 12 ordinances, one of them on religious freedom, which were approved by the cabinet, the official said.</p>.<p>They have been sent to the governor for assent.</p>.<p>After the approval of the ordinances, Chouhan, in a statement, said, Adulteration is a dreadful crime. There have been reports of adulteration in food and medicines.</p>.<p>"There were reports of adulteration even in the plasma used to treat coronavirus patients and in vaccine. Could there be a bigger crime than this?</p>.<p>Chouhan said the practice of adulteration will not be allowed in Madhya Pradesh at any cost.</p>.<p>"For this, an ordinance was approved in the cabinet meeting. Sections 272, 273, 274, 275 and 276 of the Indian Penal Code (related to public health & safety) have been amended to replace 6 months imprisonment and fine up to Rs 1,000 with life imprisonment.</p>.<p>"Adulterators will now face life imprisonment, the chief minister said.</p>.<p>The person directly engaged in adulteration and the owner of premises where such activities are taking place will be punished and not the trader selling contaminated items, the statement said.</p>.<p>A new section 273 (a) has been added. Under this, a provision of five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both on sale of food items after their expiry date has been made.</p>.<p>"This law will become a great medium to stop adulteration, Chouhan said.</p>
<p>The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved an ordinance that has a provision for life sentence for those found guilty of food and drug adulteration in the state, an official said.</p>.<p>A separate section has been introduced in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to provide for five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both for those selling food items beyond their expiry date.</p>.<p>The Penal Laws (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, was cleared at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who described adulteration of food items and medicines as a "dreadful crime", said the Public Relations Department official.</p>.<p>Earlier, a bill to this effect was cleared by the cabinet but it could not be introduced in the assembly as its three-day winter session, scheduled to start from December 28, was postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.</p>.<p>In this backdrop, the BJP government took the ordinance route to notify the law aimed at checking adulteration of food and drugs in the state.</p>.<p>The law on food adulteration was among 12 ordinances, one of them on religious freedom, which were approved by the cabinet, the official said.</p>.<p>They have been sent to the governor for assent.</p>.<p>After the approval of the ordinances, Chouhan, in a statement, said, Adulteration is a dreadful crime. There have been reports of adulteration in food and medicines.</p>.<p>"There were reports of adulteration even in the plasma used to treat coronavirus patients and in vaccine. Could there be a bigger crime than this?</p>.<p>Chouhan said the practice of adulteration will not be allowed in Madhya Pradesh at any cost.</p>.<p>"For this, an ordinance was approved in the cabinet meeting. Sections 272, 273, 274, 275 and 276 of the Indian Penal Code (related to public health & safety) have been amended to replace 6 months imprisonment and fine up to Rs 1,000 with life imprisonment.</p>.<p>"Adulterators will now face life imprisonment, the chief minister said.</p>.<p>The person directly engaged in adulteration and the owner of premises where such activities are taking place will be punished and not the trader selling contaminated items, the statement said.</p>.<p>A new section 273 (a) has been added. Under this, a provision of five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both on sale of food items after their expiry date has been made.</p>.<p>"This law will become a great medium to stop adulteration, Chouhan said.</p>