The Hindu : Other States / Jammu & Kashmir News : J-K to stop food wastage at marriages

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Wednesday, May 26, 2004

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

J-K to stop food wastage at marriages

SRINAGAR, MAY 25. Marriage ceremonies will not be the same again in Jammu and Kashmir with the government invoking today the Essential Commodities Act to prevent wastage of food at wedding feasts in the state.

The order re-invoking ECA empowers the state officials to regulate the number of guests and the menu at any marriage function in the state.

The ECA of 1955, which was notified in September 1973, has been re-invoked in view of the huge wastage of food involved in marriage feasts across the state, Minister for Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Taj Mohiuddin told reporters here.

Under the new order, government has approved cooking 45 kgs each of rice and meat for the marriage ceremony of one daughter and 60 kgs each of rice and meat in case two daughters being married off at the same time. The bride's side has been allowed to invite 75 guests, including 25 baratees, while a groom can invite 50 guests, Mohiuddin said.

The extravagance at marriage feasts has affected the supply-demand ratio for the food items, which resulted in rising prices, he said.

A special team of Consumer Affairs department and police officials would monitor all the marriage functions to ensure implementation of the new order which came into force today, he said.

Those violating the order could face imprisonment up to three years, Mohiuddin said.

The ECA also forbids any party within 15 days of the marriage and restricts the number of invitees for the bride's side to 150 in case of a tea party. The groom's side can invite 50 guests for the same.

The approved menu for marriage feasts should not exceed five dishes, including rice and meat, Mohiuddin said.

The host has to inform in writing, ten days in advance, about the proposed entertainment or marriage function to the nearest police station and the Consumer Affairs Department, he said.

However, these restrictions would not apply to the proprietor, manager or person in charge of a residential, institutional or catering establishment, serving food to customers or residents in the course of regular business, the minister said.

The restrictions shall not apply to any religious, political, charitable, social or philanthropic ceremony or functions arranged jointly by a body (other than a body wholly composed of relatives) with the prior permission of the government, he said.

For effective enforcement of the provisions of this order, the implementing authorities may enter and search any premises, interrogate any person and seize any articles, including coverings or containers in which he has reasons to believe that contravention has been or is about to be committed, Mohiuddin said.

PTI

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