Bombay High Court slams FDA for ‘pedantic’ view, clears reopening of 5 eateries at MCA premises
The Bombay High Court has vacated the suspension of five eateries at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises after finding them 88% compliant with food safety rules. The court criticized the FDA for taking a 'pedantic' approach rather than a pragmatic one.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights judicial intervention in administrative overreach and sets a precedent for how regulatory bodies should handle compliance issues in commercial establishments.
The Maharashtra FDA on Saturday said it would withdraw its order suspending the licences of five restaurants operating on the Mumbai Cricket Association premises, after the Bombay High Court warned of stinging orders against officials for taking a "pedantic instead of pragmatic view" of the situation.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad 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% compliant with food safety rules.
The MCA had approached the High Court challenging the FDA's decision to suspend operations over alleged hygiene violations and third-party operational irregularities.
Although a fresh inspection carried out on Thursday (August 27, 2026) showed 88% compliance, the FDA had initially maintained the suspension because the eateries were being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure despite the licences being registered in the MCA's name.
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