Bombay High Court orders action over FDA canteen reports
The Bombay High Court has ordered disciplinary action against FDA officials for filing inaccurate inspection reports regarding government canteens. The court criticized the discrepancy between the FDA's favorable reports and independent findings of poor hygiene in state facilities.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of government accountability and the principle that public health standards must be applied equally to all institutions.
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.
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.
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