Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to a Pune-based sweets shop after finding no justification for the continued suspension of its food licence despite significant compliance with prescribed norms.
The case concerned Gurunanak Dairy and Sweets, located in Pune’s Wadgaon-Sheri area, whose licence was suspended on June 12 following an inspection that pointed to shortcomings related to hygiene and sanitation.
After receiving the inspection report, the establishment submitted details of corrective measures taken to address the deficiencies. A subsequent inspection carried out on July 13 reportedly found that the shop had complied with 35 out of 36 required parameters, amounting to nearly 98 per cent adherence to food safety standards.
Observing that the business had substantially met the required conditions, the High Court questioned the rationale behind the continued suspension of the licence. The court subsequently set aside the order that had prevented the shop from operating.
The bench also permitted the establishment to resume business activities and directed the Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh to the shop within 30 days.
The ruling highlights the importance of timely administrative action and proportional decision-making by regulatory authorities, particularly in cases where businesses have addressed deficiencies and complied with safety requirements.
