The Bombay High Court has issued a stern warning to officials from the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), led by Tukaram Mundhe, regarding potential contempt proceedings and imprisonment. This warning comes after the court criticized the FDA for adopting a “pedantic instead of pragmatic view” when it suspended the licenses of five restaurants located on the Mumbai Cricket Association premises.
Following the court’s remarks, the Maharashtra FDA on Saturday said it would withdraw its order suspending the licences of the five restaurants. The FDA on Saturday informed the court that it would issue a fresh notice to the MCA, grant it a hearing on the issue of its contract with Shirke Infrastructure and then pass a reasoned order. The MCA had approached the high court challenging the FDA’s decision to suspend operations over alleged hygiene violations and third-party operational irregularities. “However, despite clearly saying this, the FDA has disobeyed our order and taken a pedantic view instead of a pragmatic view. We are tired of scolding the department and officers all the time. It is now time to pass stinging orders. We will issue contempt action against the concerned officers.
The court vacated the suspension after a fresh inspection report submitted by the FDA confirmed that the eateries located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex area were 88 per cent compliant with food safety rules, the report added.
The court accepted this and said that since the eateries are now compliant with the rules, the order suspending their licences stands vacated and they can reopen their services. Let them convince us or go to jail,” the court said.
