1 week ago
Bombay High Court Orders Clean-Up After MCA Kitchen Roaches
Food inspectors found serious cleanliness problems in five eateries at the Mumbai Cricket Association.
They reported cockroaches, flies, dirty kitchens and slippery floors.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended the eateries’ licenses.
The cricket association argued that it should have received a warning and time to fix the problems.
The Bombay High Court said an immediate suspension was allowed when the violations were serious.
The court made a joke about the possibility of “non-vegetarian tea” because of the insects.
It allowed a vending machine to provide tea and coffee to cricketers.
The eateries must be cleaned before the FDA checks them again on Thursday.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended licenses for five eateries at Mumbai Cricket Association premises in Bandra-Kurla Complex.
FDA inspectors reported cockroaches, flies, dirty kitchens and slippery floors at the eateries.
MCA argued that the FDA should have issued an improvement notice before suspending the licenses.
The Bombay High Court ruled that gross hygiene violations allowed immediate license suspension.
The court ordered a fresh inspection on Thursday and permitted MCA to install a tea-and-coffee vending machine.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, Mumbai Cricket Association, Shirke Infrastructure and the Bombay High Court bench led by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge.
- What
- The court reviewed the suspension of five eatery licenses and ordered the premises cleaned before a fresh FDA inspection.
- Where
- The eateries are at Mumbai Cricket Association premises in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai.
- When
- The directions were issued on Tuesday; the fresh inspection was scheduled for Thursday, with the case listed again on August 29.
- Why
- The FDA reported serious hygiene violations, including cockroaches, flies, dirty kitchens and slippery floors.
MCA’s Position
FDA and Court’s Position
Prior warning
MCA’s Position
MCA argued that the FDA should have issued an improvement notice and allowed the eateries to correct their deficiencies.
FDA and Court’s Position
The court said a prior improvement notice was unnecessary because the inspection found gross hygiene violations.
Impact of suspension
MCA’s Position
MCA said the closures prevented it from serving tea to cricketers using its ground.
FDA and Court’s Position
The court prioritized food safety but permitted a vending machine for tea and coffee as a temporary alternative.
Future regulatory action
MCA’s Position
MCA challenged the suspension as drastic and arbitrary and sought relief for the eateries.
FDA and Court’s Position
The court said the suspension should be revoked promptly after deficiencies are corrected and directed the FDA to consider the MCA-Shirke Infrastructure contract pragmatically if legally permissible.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration
- Eateries affected
- Five eateries operating at Mumbai Cricket Association premises
- Reported violations
- Cockroaches, flies, dirty kitchens, and slippery floors
- MCA’s argument
- The FDA should have issued an improvement notice before suspending the licenses
- Court’s ruling
- Gross hygiene violations permitted immediate license suspension
- Temporary arrangement
- MCA may install a vending machine serving tea and coffee
- Next steps
- The eateries must be cleaned and reinspected on Thursday
- Eateries’ operator
- M/s Shirke Infrastructure, according to the FDA
Quotes
Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge
Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
“What the FDA is doing is laudable. But once a restaurant/eatery clears up the deficiencies, then the suspension order needs to be revoked immediately. It cannot be kept pending as the FDA's objective has been achieved.”
deccanchronicle.com
“There are flies and cockroaches in the restaurants' kitchens. It is non-vegetarian tea. Do they (cricketers) know they are consuming this tea?”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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