The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to submit a comprehensive status report on Food and Drug Administration inspections conducted across public and semi-government canteens, while questioning the legality of immediate licence suspensions without prior notices.
Hearing a challenge against a recent licence suspension, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad ordered state authorities to produce full details of all completed and pending eating facility inspections by July 31. The court noted that regulatory procedure requires issuing an improvement notice before taking action to suspend an establishment’s operational licence.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing on Friday, indicating that a formal order would be issued in due course.
Navi Mumbai Hotel Challenges Licence Suspension
The judicial directions arose from a petition filed by Sanjay Nirbhavane, human resources head of a five-star hotel situated in Navi Mumbai. The hotel approached the court after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended its Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence for alleged non-compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Representing the petitioner, Advocate Mayur Khandeparkar argued that the enforcement drive must adhere strictly to statutory procedures. He stated that the hotel was denied a hearing and an opportunity to rectify deficiencies, adding that the establishment’s recorded deficiency scores remained within tolerable statutory thresholds.
State Counter-Arguments and Public Canteen Closures
Defending the state’s enforcement drive, Government Pleader Neha Bhide rejected claims that the FDA was selectively targeting private businesses. She informed the court that the regulator had similarly ordered the closure of canteens at public institutions, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, KEM Hospital, and the Cricket Club of India, following inspection failures.
Bhide assured the bench that the state would present a full account by July 31, covering all state and semi-government canteens inspected so far, as well as those scheduled for future checks.
Statewide Regulatory Crackdown
The ongoing regulatory campaign, led by FDA Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, aims to penalize food establishments across Maharashtra that fail to maintain required sanitation and safety standards.
The High Court’s scrutiny follows a ruling last week by its Aurangabad bench, which stayed FDA suspension orders issued against several milk suppliers and vendors in the state.
