The Punjab government has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it imposed penalties amounting to Rs 3.04 crore in 2,191 food adulteration cases between January 2019 and December 2024, most involving milk and dairy products. The disclosure came in an affidavit filed by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the rampant sale of contaminated milk and related products. The HC had, in an interim order on July 22 this year, directed both Punjab and Haryana to submit data on penalties imposed in the past five years. Story continues below this adAccording to the affidavit filed by under secretary Ram Ishwar, penalties were imposed in about 95 per cent cases, though prosecution was initiated in only two instances. Story continues below this adThe petition also seeks additional food-testing laboratories, public awareness campaigns and enhanced penalties under the food safety law.