Bengaluru: The Karnataka govt has decided to engage authorised third-party agencies to conduct regulatory inspections, audits and certifications in departments facing a shortage of field staff, in a move to clear the backlog of inspections and ensure timely compliance.However, engaging private agencies will not dilute the statutory powers of govt officials. The powers to collect food and drug samples, seize products and initiate legal prosecution will remain exclusively with govt authorities, sources said.Based on a recommendation by Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission-2 (KARC-2), the govt has directed the labour, health and family welfare, and food, civil supplies and consumer affairs departments to identify regulatory inspections, verifications and certifications that can be entrusted to or supported by third-party agencies.The Prajaseva department has issued an order directing the departments concerned to prepare time-bound action plans for implementing the new system.The initiative will prioritise departments where staff shortages have delayed routine inspections. These include the legal metrology department, which conducts annual inspections and stamping of weighing and measuring instruments; the food safety and drugs administration department, which inspects food establishments, restaurants, medical stores and pharmacies; and the department of factories and boilers, which oversees industrial boiler safety inspections and annual certification.Officials will use inspection reports and audit findings submitted by the agencies to identify high-risk establishments and focus enforcement efforts on them.To ensure accountability, departmental officials will conduct random spot checks to verify the accuracy of inspection reports. Agencies found guilty of negligence, irregularities or other lapses will face stringent action, including blacklisting.The departments have been directed to submit time-bound action plans detailing empanelment procedures, eligibility criteria and measures for speedy implementation.The proposal will also be reviewed at the KDP progress review meeting chaired by the chief secretary.
