Rajasthan HC Orders Inspection of Milk Cooperatives Over Urea in Animal Feed, Crop Cultivation in Dirty Water

A Division Bench at Jaipur directed State authorities to inspect Saras, Amul, Mother Dairy and other milk sellers amid concerns over urea-laced animal feed and unsafe pesticide deaths.

The High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jaipur, on 1 July 2026 directed State Government authorities to conduct inspections of milk-selling cooperatives and agencies operating in Rajasthan, including the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF), Amul, Lotus, Mother Dairy and other agencies. The direction came in a suo motu Public Interest Litigation arising from concerns over public health and food adulteration. Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Maneesh Sharma, sitting as a Division Bench, also directed the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board to file a report on action taken against illegal cultivation of vegetables and crops in areas where city wastewater collects. The matter is next listed on 4 August 2026.

The Proceedings Before the Division Bench

The principal matter, D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 10675/2024, was taken up as a suo motu PIL by a learned Single Judge on 1 July 2024. The Division Bench has since been monitoring it. Three connected petitions were heard alongside: D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 8682/2020 filed by Dharmveer Gurjar, D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 10875/2020 filed by Child Nutrition Welfare Society, and D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 9804/2025, a further suo motu proceeding.

Mr. M.S. Singhvi, Senior Advocate, appeared as Amicus Curiae, assisted by Mr. Darsh Pareek and Mr. Arvind Kumar Arora. The State of Rajasthan was represented by Advocate General Mr. Rajendra Prasad, assisted by Ms. Harshita Thakral and others. The Union of India was represented by Mr. Bharat Vyas, Additional Solicitor General, assisted by Mr. Rakesh Choudhary.

Urea in Animal Feed and the Milk Quality Concern

The Amicus Curiae placed before the bench published articles and studies concerning the effect of urea found in animal feed. The bench recorded that urea, otherwise used for industrial purposes, is being used “rampantly for being mixed in animal feed,” resulting in harm to animals' health. The materials pointed to direct human health risks as well.

Specifically, the bench noted a chart showing that if an animal consumes feed with excessive urea over a prolonged period, nitrogen and urea levels in its body can rise, which may lead to poor quality of milk. This milk then reaches consumers through commercial channels.

A separate report was also placed before the bench showing that the use of unsafe pesticides had resulted in 535 farmers' deaths. The bench took all of these materials on record.

Why the Bench Extended the Inspection Mandate Beyond RCDF

The Advocate General drew the bench's attention to a counter-affidavit filed by the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Control, which contained details about enforcement samples collected and analysed. The Advocate General sought additional time to file a supplementary explanatory affidavit referencing reports submitted by State Food Safety Officers. The bench granted that time.

Separately, the bench directed RCDF to file an affidavit in response to observations made in an earlier order dated 12 February 2026 and in the Single Judge's order taking up the PIL on 1 July 2024.

The bench observed that apart from the government cooperative RCDF, which sells milk products under the Saras brand, other cooperatives and private agencies — including Amul, Lotus, and Mother Dairy — are also selling milk and milk products in Rajasthan. Given that concern over adulteration extended beyond any single agency, the bench found it necessary to check the methods these entities adopt to prevent synthetic products from entering the supply chain.

State Government authorities were accordingly directed to conduct inspections across all such entities and submit a report to the court.

Illegal Cultivation in Wastewater Areas

In the connected matter, D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 8682/2020, the bench addressed a distinct but related public health concern: vegetables and crops being grown in swamps and areas where dirty city water collects.

The bench directed the Pollution Control Board to file a report on steps taken, including registration of FIRs, against those carrying out such illegal cultivation. The bench was explicit that this direction was not confined to Jaipur. Officers of the Pollution Control Board at each district were made responsible for ensuring that vegetables and crops are not grown in such areas across all cities in Rajasthan.

A report on action taken was required to be submitted on the next date of hearing.

Order

The Division Bench passed the following directions on 1 July 2026:

• RCDF to file an affidavit responding to the court's observations of 12 February 2026 and the Single Judge's PIL order of 1 July 2024.
• The Advocate General granted time to file an additional explanatory affidavit referencing State Food Safety Officers' reports.
• State Government authorities directed to conduct inspections of milk-selling cooperatives and agencies, including Saras (RCDF), Amul, Lotus, Mother Dairy and others, and submit a report to the court.
• Pollution Control Board directed to submit a report on action taken — including FIR registration — against illegal cultivation in wastewater collection areas, applicable to all cities and districts in Rajasthan, not only Jaipur.
• All connected matters listed on 4 August 2026.