Bombay High Court Raises Questions Over Maharashtra FDA's Enforcement Action

The Bombay High Court has questioned the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over what it viewed as an excessively strict approach to enforcement. The court made the observations while hearing separate matters involving pharmaceutical company SPLA and five restaurants operating at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises in Bandra Kurla Complex. The strongest criticism emerged during the hearing concerning the MCA restaurants, whose licences had been suspended by the FDA. A later inspection reportedly showed that the five establishments were about 88% compliant with food safety standards. This led the court to question the rationale behind continuing with the enforcement action despite the high level of compliance. The court observed that the FDA appeared to have acted too quickly and adopted a rigid, rule-focused approach instead of taking a more practical view of the situation. It also raised concerns over the department’s decision not to reconsider its action despite an earlier direction from the court to review the matter. The case comes amid a broader enforcement campaign by the Maharashtra FDA, headed by Commissioner Tukaram Modi, targeting alleged violations of food and pharmaceutical safety regulations across the state. The court’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the balance between strict regulatory enforcement and a proportionate approach when dealing with businesses that are working to comply with safety requirements.

Disclaimer: This video is taken from WION.