ANDHRA PRADESH GRAIN & SEED MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION ETC. ET vs UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Sections 7, 10, and 19 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, rejecting claims that they violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. The Court established that absolute liability can be imposed in public welfare legislation aimed at controlling food adulteration, as it serves the larger public interest. The Court held that the Act does not require mens rea for offences, and the vendor's ignorance cannot be a defense against the sale of adulterated food, thus affirming the stringent regulatory framework of the Act.