The High Court yesterday directed the government to issue a gazette notification within 15 days to enforce the safe food law to prevent food adulteration. In response to a writ petition, the HC ordered the food secretary to submit a report before it by June 16, after complying with the directives. A rule has also been issued, asking the to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to form an authority as per the Nirapad Khaddyo Ain (Safe Food Act), 2013 to take necessary action to ensure safe food for people. The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition filed by rights organisation, Legal Action Bangladesh Foundation. On May 21, the rights body filed the writ petition, seeking its directives on the government to take necessary measures to ensure safe food for the commoners. It said parliament has passed a bill on the Safe Food Act in 2013 to stop the widespread food adulteration through forming courts for disposal of cases against the food-related crimes. The act has not yet come into effect, as the government does not issue a gazette notification in this regard, the petitioner said, adding that the law has a provision for five years' jail and a Tk 10 lakh fine as maximum punishment for food adulteration. According to the act, the government is supposed to form a 30-member National Safe Food Management Advisory Council headed by the food minister to coordinate the action and decisions of the Safe Food Authority. The rights body has also prayed for necessary instructions for the authorities concerned to operate mobile courts against food adulteration in all district towns and metropolitan areas. The organisation has also urged the court to form a committee, “Safe Food Authority”, in compliance with the safe food act to take necessary decisions and action to stop the adulteration of food. Syed Mohidul Kabir appeared for the petitioner.