Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe Responds To Bombay High Court Order On Pune Sweet Shop

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced that the department will explore its legal options following a Bombay High Court verdict penalizing the regulatory authority 5 lakh. Speaking on the judicial directive that ordered compensation for a Wadgaon Sheri-based retailer, Gurunanak Dairy and Sweets, Mundhe expressed surprise over the judgment. He emphasized that the regulatory agency initiated original action against the establishment after receiving consumer complaints regarding suspected food poisoning, maintaining that public health remains the primary mandate driving the state regulatory body.

The legal confrontation arose after a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad criticized the state regulator for maintaining a prolonged operational suspension against the sweet shop. The retailer’s license was initially suspended in June following a food poisoning report and sanitation concerns. However, during a follow-up assessment in July, the establishment satisfied 35 out of 36 evaluation metrics, securing a 98 percent safety compliance score. Despite passing the re-inspection, the license remained suspended for 34 days while an internal departmental appeal was pending, leading the retailer to seek intervention from the court.

In its decision, the High Court observed that keeping a business shuttered after it achieves near-total compliance went beyond reasonable enforcement and constituted unnecessary hardship for business owners. The court set aside the suspension order, permitted the store to restart operations, and directed the regulator to deposit 5 lakh in compensation within 30 days to cover estimated revenue losses. State counsel had maintained during hearings that administrative rules required the owner to pursue the pending appeal before the department commissioner.

Responding to the verdict, Commissioner Mundhe clarified that the department would thoroughly analyze the written order before determining its next procedural steps. He reiterated that the ongoing enforcement initiatives across Maharashtra aim to protect consumers, highlighting recent state-wide drives targeting online food vendors, dairy distribution channels, and dining facilities. Reaffirming his commitment to strict public safety standards, the commissioner noted that maintaining stringent checks on food and drug supply chains is vital for safeguarding public health.