Bombay High Court slams FDA for ‘pedantic’ view, clears reopening of 5 eateries at MCA premises

Mumbai: 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 per cent 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.