selling drinking water sans the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) mark can take you to jail. Acting on a petition filed by Vanishree Gnaneswaran, the Madras High Court recently issued notices to the Union health and family welfare secretary and the state municipal authorities.

According to the amended Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 2000, all packaged drinking water should carry the BIS certification mark and those who sell such water without the mark could face criminal prosecution, besides closure of their units.

This rule is being flouted with impunity by water selling companies and the municipal government is a silent spectator.

A lot of unauthorised units manufacturing mineral drinking water have mushroomed in the city. However, in violation of the stipulated norms, these manufacturers do not carry the BIS declaration which they ought to. This was posing health hazard for the public.