Suspicion of watermelon quality, Madras High Court directs the horticulture department

Representative image. File | Picture source: C. Venkatachalapathy

The Madras High Court directed the Horticulture Department to issue a press statement on Wednesday (16 April 2025), which eliminates the quality of consumers passing random inspections during this summer season to confirm that the fruit does not inject color or sweetness into the chemicals to indicate that consumers may have questions about the quality of watermelons throughout Tamil Nadu.

Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued an interim order based on a written petition submitted by M. Venkatesan, Chairman of Chengalpattu Farmers Welfare Association. The petitioner alleged that officials appointed by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) department had caused panic among watermelon consumers by making certain clear statements.

With the assistance of K. Kesavan, attorney R. Sankarasubbu, the written petitioner, said farmers in the Gorge Patu district started growing watermelons in January and expected good sales in the summer starting in April this year. He said it is a fruit with many health benefits that can help the body cool down by replenishing the loss of moisture due to the heat.

Farmers in Patu district alone spent about Rs 68,000 on about 16,000 acres of land this season, thus growing watermelons on about 16,000 acres. Those who rented the land spent another Rs 30,000 per acre, with the estimated Rs 10,000 per ton of watermelon in the first grade, Rs 5,000 per ton of second grade and Rs 2,000 per ton of fruit in the third grade.

Lawyers said accusing FSDA officials of claiming that they are injecting artificial dye into fruits to enhance their color, suddenly spreading panic, which is against hundreds of farmers who cannot realize the adverse effects of funding for the lack of demand in the market.

A special government defense lawyer told the court that watermelon seeds were distributed to farmers in the cost Patu district this year, and a recent random inspection by the department did not result in the discovery of any chemicals that have been injected with fruits that are now sold in the open market.

After recording his submission, the judge directed the department to issue a press statement to ensure the quality of the fruit consumers sell on the market so that farmers do not end up suffering monetary losses. The judge also ordered a notice to return by June 9 to pay attention to the main writ petition to give him a chance to explain his position.