Bombay HC orders fresh FDA inspection of MCA eateries

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration to conduct a fresh inspection of five eateries at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises, whose licenses were suspended last week over serious food safety violations. The court permitted the outlets to operate automated tea and coffee vending machines in the interim to serve players and guests.

The court's order came during a hearing on petitions filed by the MCA challenging the suspension. The FDA had suspended the licenses of the Permit Room, Pavilion, Mediterranean, Oriental Swing, and Clubway Pastry Counter on August 21, a day after an inspection flagged multiple hygiene and operational deficiencies. The inspection, conducted on August 20, found issues including cockroach and fly infestations, unclean floors, improper food storage, and inadequate temperature controls across the outlets.

During the proceedings, the bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed dissatisfaction with the format of the inspection reports, noting they lacked standard scoring parameters. The court directed FDA officials to carry out a reinspection on Thursday between 1 p.m. and...