Supreme Court Dismisses PIL For Checks On Prasad, Food Items Distributed In Religious Places; Asks Litigant To Approach FSSAI

The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking regulation of the quality of "prasad," food offered and distributed at religious places. The petitioner argued that poor quality "prasad" posed health risks to devotees and required additional oversight. However, the court pointed out that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is already tasked with ensuring food safety nationwide. The bench found no merit in duplicating mechanisms for quality control and emphasized that local authorities and religious institutions are capable of maintaining hygiene standards. The court also highlighted the need to avoid unnecessary judicial intervention in areas where robust statutory frameworks like FSSAI already exist. The judgment reinforces the principle of judicial restraint when comprehensive mechanisms are in place.