Friday, May 22, 2026 –
In a significant ruling with implications for food safety accountability in Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh declined on Friday to quash criminal proceedings against representatives of the cooperative milk producers’ union associated with the Amul brand. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, delivering the judgment, dismissed a petition that sought to shut down a case pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Shopian, and vacated interim stay orders that had been shielding the accused since April 2022.
The court’s core reasoning was unambiguous: concerns of public health and food safety cannot be subordinated to commercial interests or technical legal objections. The trial court has been directed to conclude proceedings preferably within six months.
The case, which centres on allegations of unsafe milk being supplied in the Shopian area, has been stalled for years under legal challenge. Friday’s ruling clears the way for the matter to finally proceed on its merits — a development likely to be watched closely by consumer rights advocates across the region. The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s posture that food safety cases must run their course, regardless of the stature of the entities involved.
