Politics · India Bureau
Bombay High Court overturns FDA suspension of MCA restaurants
The Bombay High Court has ordered the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration to withdraw suspension orders against five restaurants at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises after finding them 88 per cent compliant with food safety regulations.
LSN India ·
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad vacated the licence suspension on Saturday, directing the FDA to reverse its decision following a fresh inspection report that confirmed substantial compliance with food safety norms.
The court expressed strong disapproval of the FDA's approach to the matter. The judges warned officials against adopting a "pedantic instead of pragmatic view" of the situation, cautioning of potential stinging orders against those responsible for the suspension.
The five eateries, located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex area, had their operating licences suspended by the FDA over alleged hygiene violations and third-party operational irregularities. The MCA had challenged the suspension in court, arguing that a fresh inspection conducted on Thursday demonstrated the establishments met food safety standards.
Although the inspection confirmed 88 per cent compliance, the FDA had initially maintained the suspension because the restaurants were being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure despite the licences being registered in the MCA's name. Following the high court's intervention, the FDA agreed to withdraw the suspension order.