HC questions FDA’s clean and hygiene certificate to Mantralaya canteen; asks it to be impartial

The Bombay High Court questioned the Maharashtra FDA's '98 per cent clean' certificate for the Mantralaya canteen, citing doubts about its impartiality.

The HC bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad ordered four lawyers to visit the Mantralaya canteen and report back by afternoon.

The HC directed the FDA to submit inspection photos and videos of the Mantralaya canteen, noting that only photos from the Poornima restaurant were provided.

The court asked the FDA to explain why some eateries received improvement notices while others were served suspension notices directly.

Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, for Poornima restaurant, argued the FDA issued a suspension notice without due process.