FDA says Mantralaya canteen 98% clean, Bombay High Court orders lawyers' inspection

The Bombay High Court on Friday constituted a four-member committee of lawyers to inspect the Maharashtra government’s Mantralaya canteen after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the court that it had found no fly or insect on the premises and had recorded 98 per cent compliance with hygiene norms.The bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad appointed advocates Ganu, Kainaz Irani, Feroze Bharucha and Surya Samrat to immediately visit the canteen at the state secretariat and report back to the court later in the day.The development came after the FDA, which recently inspected canteens operating within the Bombay High Court premises, submitted a chart detailing inspections of eateries and canteens across Mumbai, including those at Mantralaya and the high court. The Mantralaya canteen was shown as having secured 98 per cent cleanliness marks.Questioning the assessment, the court sought inspection photographs and videography from the FDA. “Show us the pictures and videos of the Mantralaya canteen when the inspection was carried out. As per FDA, the canteen is spic and span. You (FDA) have submitted photos from the inspection carried out at the Poornima restaurant. Be uniform and fair to all. You cannot target only private properties,” the bench said.The court stressed that the FDA must act uniformly while enforcing food safety norms. “We appreciate the department for the work they are doing, but we only want them to be equal to all. They should not be lopsided towards anyone. They need to be impartial and fair,” it observed.Following the order, FDA officials accompanied by the lawyers inspected the Mantralaya canteen, including its kitchen, drinking water facilities, sanitation arrangements and food handling practices.The authority is expected to submit a report on its findings.The bench also questioned why some establishments were issued improvement notices while others received direct suspension notices.Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for Poornima restaurant, argued that the FDA had issued a suspension notice without following due process.FDA CRACKDOWN IN MAHARASHTRAThe proceedings are linked to the court’s earlier scrutiny of the FDA’s crackdown after it quashed the suspension of the food licence of a Navi Mumbai hotel, observing that the discovery of two small insects did not justify such drastic action when the establishment otherwise had 95 per cent compliance.The FDA’s enforcement drive has intensified since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as Commissioner in May under the “Safe Food, Safe Drug, Safe Maharashtra” campaign.Inspections have covered restaurants, clubs, bakeries, dairies and government establishments, and several licences have been suspended for alleged food safety violations.Defending the campaign, Mundhe has maintained the objective is public health, not targeting businesses.The FDA has also recently prohibited the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools across Maharashtra and made food safety licences mandatory for school canteens.The high court will continue hearing the matter, and is expected to examine the inspection reports and the FDA’s explanation regarding its enforcement standards across government and private establishments.- EndsPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 17:09 IST