The Bombay High Court on Friday questioned the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over its enforcement drive against private hotels and restaurant chains, observing that food safety laws cannot be implemented selectively. The court stressed that government and semi-government establishments must also be subjected to the same level of scrutiny.
Court Questions Selective Enforcement
During the hearing, the bench sought details of inspections carried out at government-run facilities after noting that recent FDA action had largely focused on private businesses. The judges remarked that enforcement should be uniform and not limited to commercial establishments.
In response, the FDA informed the court that inspections had also been conducted at the Mantralaya canteen and other government institutions. According to the agency, action was initiated wherever irregularities were detected.
FDA Claims Mantralaya Canteen Was Free Of Pests
The FDA told the court that inspectors did not find any insects or pests during their inspection of the Mantralaya canteen. The submission, however, drew a sharp response from the bench.
Questioning the claim, the court reportedly observed that it was difficult to believe a busy public canteen could be entirely free of flies or insects, noting that even reputed five-star hotels occasionally encounter such issues.
High Court Orders Fresh Inspection
Unsatisfied with the FDA’s submission, the High Court decided to independently verify the condition of the canteen. It constituted a four-member team of lawyers to inspect the Mantralaya canteen and directed that the entire exercise be videographed.
The court instructed the team to submit a fresh inspection report before the next hearing and indicated that appropriate action should follow if any violations or unhygienic conditions were found during the inspection.
FDA Seeks More Time
The FDA also requested additional time to place its detailed reply before the court. Accepting the request, the bench scheduled the matter for further hearing later in the day, when the inspection report from the lawyers’ team was expected to be placed on record.
The case continues to focus on whether food safety enforcement in Maharashtra is being carried out uniformly across both private establishments and government-operated facilities.
