In Brief
Alkem Laboratories challenged criminal proceedings initiated against it for alleged misbranding of jelly under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The Supreme Court held that the respondents violated the appellant's statutory right under Section 13(2) to get the sample re-tested by a public analyst. By failing to serve proper notice at the official address clearly printed on the product label, and by causing unjustified delay, the authorities deprived the appellant of this right. Additionally, the sample's likely expired shelf life made it unfit for analysis. The Court quashed all proceedings against the appellant, emphasizing that statutory procedural rights of the accused in food adulteration cases cannot be casually disregarded.
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