The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner to initiate disciplinary proceedings against officers who prepared inspection reports on canteens at the State Secretariat and Vidhan Bhavan. A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad made this observation after advocates appointed by the court submitted a report that contradicted the FDA’s findings.
Plea by restaurants
The court was hearing petitions on Friday (August 1, 2026) from Poornima restaurant in Fort, Mumbai, and Park Inn by Radisson, Navi Mumbai, challenging the suspension of their Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences. The FDA had suspended these licences following inspections that found black spots on fruits and vegetables at Poornima restaurant and insects at the hotel.
Earlier in the week, the Bench had directed the FDA to conduct surprise inspections of government and semi-government canteens. The FDA inspected four canteens at the High Court premises and three at Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan. While the High Court canteens showed deficiencies, the FDA reported that Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan canteens were 98% compliant with food safety norms.
