Bombay High Court Orders FDA to Pay Pune Shop ₹5 Lakh

The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pay ₹5 lakh in compensation to Gurunanak Dairy and Sweets, a Pune-based shop, after the agency failed to revoke a license suspension despite the business achieving 98% compliance. The shop remained closed for 34 days following a June 12 suspension triggered by food poisoning complaints and sanitation deficiencies.

Although a July 13 re-inspection awarded the shop 35 out of 36 marks for food safety, the FDA refused to restore the license while an appeal before the FDA Commissioner remained pending. Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge quashed the suspension order, characterizing the FDA's approach as plain and simple perversity and absolute torture. The court noted the closure caused a revenue loss of approximately ₹8.74 lakh and directed the FDA to pay the compensation within 30 days.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced the department will challenge the ruling. Mundhe defended the original suspension, stating that consumers were hospitalized due to food poisoning and that reports classified the food as unsafe. The dispute occurs amid a broader FDA inspection drive across Maharashtra that has resulted in the seizure of nearly 2 tonnes of food products and the suspension of 14 online-delivery business licenses.