---
title: "High Court Demands Inspection of State Canteen After Questioning FDA Favoritism"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/high-court-demands-inspection-of-state-canteen-after-questioning-fda-favoritism-gjalg
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-07-31T10:40:25.000Z
modified: 2026-07-31T12:52:51.928Z
language: en-IN
---

# High Court Demands Inspection of State Canteen After Questioning FDA Favoritism

The Bombay High Court ordered an immediate independent review of the Mantralaya canteen's hygiene standards on July 31, 2026. This move follows skepticism over a 98% cleanliness rating issued by the FDA while private establishments faced harsher penalties.

## Key takeaways

- The Bombay High Court ordered an immediate independent inspection of the Mantralaya canteen by a panel of four lawyers on July 31, 2026.
- Judges questioned the FDA's 98% cleanliness rating for the government canteen, demanding photographic and video proof of the inspection.
- The court highlighted inconsistent enforcement where private restaurants received suspension notices while state facilities appeared to receive favorable treatment.
- The FDA must now demonstrate uniform standards for both public and private sector eateries to ensure regulatory fairness.

## Judicial Skepticism Over State Secretariat Hygiene

The Bombay High Court has intervened in an ongoing food safety dispute by questioning the integrity of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection results. On July 31, 2026, a Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed doubt over the FDA's claim that the Mantralaya canteen maintains a 98% cleanliness rating. The court suggested that such a high score appeared incongruous with the stricter standards applied to private hospitality venues.

## Independent Panel Mandated for On-Site Review

To verify the FDA's findings, the court dispatched a team of four lawyers for a surprise inspection of the state secretariat's dining facilities. This team, accompanied by FDA officials, was tasked with auditing kitchen conditions, drinking water systems, and general sanitation protocols. The court specifically demanded to see photographic and video evidence from previous inspections, noting that while the FDA provided comprehensive imagery for private businesses like Poornima restaurant, the same transparency was not initially extended to government-run sites.

## Concerns Over Inconsistent Regulatory Enforcement

The legal scrutiny centers on how the FDA determines when to issue improvement notices versus immediate suspension orders. Senior Counsel Venkatesh Dhond, representing Poornima restaurant, argued that the agency bypassed standard legal processes when targeting private enterprises. The Bench emphasized that the FDA must be impartial and uniform, avoiding lopsided enforcement that favors public institutions over private property.
- Judges demanded evidence of the parameters used to rank the Mantralaya canteen as nearly perfect.
- A report based on the lawyers' afternoon inspection will determine the accuracy of the original FDA certificate.
- The court remains appreciative of the FDA's general mission but insists on a leveled field for all food providers.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/high-court-demands-inspection-of-state-canteen-after-questioning-fda-favoritism-gjalg
Reported from: The Hindu — National