The Bombay High Court on Saturday pulled up the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration for passing a “mechanical” order refusing to revoke the suspension of licences of five eateries operating on the premises of the Mumbai Cricket Association, despite the court’s earlier direction to reconsider the matter, Live Law reported.The licences had been suspended on Monday amid a statewide drive by the administration against eateries and other establishments for alleged violations of food safety norms. The High Court had subsequently directed the Food and Drug Administration to re-inspect the premises and take a fresh decision on the suspension of licences of the five eateries: Permit Room, Oriental Swing, Clubway & Pastry Counter, Mediterranean and Pavilion. The establishments operate from the Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy and Recreational Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex.On Saturday, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed displeasure after being informed that an assistant commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration had passed an order retaining the suspension of the licences.The bench said the official had failed to “apply his mind” and had passed the order in a “pedantic” manner. The judge also questioned why the administration had not complied with the court’s directions and warned that contempt proceedings could be initiated against the assistant commissioner.The bench also criticised the haste with which the Food and Drug Administration had been passing orders in similar matters. “Why this haste?” the legal news outlet quoted the court as saying. “ We told earlier also, don't kill a mosquito with a sword... We wanted you to measure your actions." Additional Government Pleader Priyabhushan Kakade, appearing for the administration, urged the bench not to initiate contempt proceedings and sought time to consult the concerned officials.When the matter was taken up again later, Kakade informed the bench that the Food and Drug Administration had decided to restore the suspended licences of the five eateries.The bench accepted the statement and disposed of the plea.Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.Also read: How a bureaucrat has forced Maharashtra’s eateries and other food businesses to clean up their act