MARGAO
Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Director Jyoti Sardesai on Tuesday appeared before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, in connection with the case filed by city-based lawyer Adv Rajiv Gomes demanding an inquiry into the fish formalin row.
The FDA Director, however, has sought time to file a reply in the case, pointing out that the administration has moved the government to appoint a government pleader to argue its case in the court.
Sources said the FDA Director has submitted that she will file the reply in the case after the government appoints a pleader.
Given the situation, the court has adjourned the hearing of the matter to September 6. Sources said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, one of the respondents in the case, has still not been served the notice, while the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, which was served the notice was conspicuous by its absence in the court. At the last date of hearing, the Fatorda Police had filed its reply stating that they have forwarded all complaints received by it to the FDA for investigations. The police said the FDA was an expert agency to investigate into the complaints of formalin being added to fish imported from outside the State.
Adv Gomes had moved the court after the Fatorda police, SP South and Crime Branch had refused to act on his complaint demanding registration of an FIR in the case.
