📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prabhat Kumar Sharma
Food
Haryana’s Food Safety Department Operates with Only 5 Officers Against 45 Sanctioned Posts
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 01:38 PM
👁 41
The Haryana food‑safety wing is functioning with just five officers, far below the 45 positions approved by the state, raising concerns over inspection capacity.
The Times of India reports that Haryana’s food‑safety department is severely understaffed. Out of the 45 posts sanctioned for the department, only five officers are currently on duty. This shortfall limits the agency’s ability to conduct regular inspections of food establishments across the state.
State officials acknowledge the gap and have indicated that recruitment drives are underway, but no concrete timeline has been provided. In the interim, the limited workforce is tasked with handling a large volume of complaints and routine monitoring, which could affect compliance enforcement.
Experts warn that such a staffing deficit may compromise consumer safety, especially in densely populated urban areas where food‑service outlets are numerous. The department is expected to prioritize critical inspections while awaiting the appointment of additional personnel.
The situation underscores broader challenges faced by Indian states in aligning sanctioned posts with actual staffing levels, a factor that can impact public health outcomes.
State officials acknowledge the gap and have indicated that recruitment drives are underway, but no concrete timeline has been provided. In the interim, the limited workforce is tasked with handling a large volume of complaints and routine monitoring, which could affect compliance enforcement.
Experts warn that such a staffing deficit may compromise consumer safety, especially in densely populated urban areas where food‑service outlets are numerous. The department is expected to prioritize critical inspections while awaiting the appointment of additional personnel.
The situation underscores broader challenges faced by Indian states in aligning sanctioned posts with actual staffing levels, a factor that can impact public health outcomes.