Bombay HC Seeks Government Eatery Inspection Details
The Bombay High Court has sought details from the Maharashtra government on food safety inspections conducted at eateries operated by government bodies, semi-government institutions, statutory authorities and government contractors. The direction came while hearing a challenge to the suspension of a Navi Mumbai five-star hotel’s FSSAI licence.
Bombay High Court Reviews FDA Inspections
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad asked whether the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration had inspected all categories of food establishments without selectively targeting private businesses.
The state government maintained that there was no selective action. It informed the court that canteens operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, KEM Hospital, the Cricket Club of India and other prominent Mumbai clubs had also been inspected and closed over alleged food safety violations.
Hotel Challenges FSSAI Licence Suspension
The proceedings arose from a petition filed by Sanjay Nirbhavane, the human resources head of a five-star hotel in Navi Mumbai. He challenged the suspension of the hotel’s food safety licence over alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The petitioner argued that the FDA should have first issued an improvement notice and provided an opportunity to rectify the deficiencies before suspending the licence.
The court orally observed that suspension should ordinarily follow a failure to comply with an improvement notice rather than precede it.
Maharashtra Asked for Inspection Details
The High Court directed the state to provide details of inspections conducted at eateries operated by statutory authorities, government departments and semi-government establishments.
The government must also clarify whether establishments that have not yet been inspected will be included in the statewide enforcement drive.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 31, when the state is expected to submit the requested information.
