MUMBAI: A day after Bombay HC orally asked FDA if it was inspecting govt canteens like the ones at Mantralaya and HC, besides private establishments, an FDA team visited three canteens on the HC premises Thursday.However, it found one of them, the Bombay Bar Association canteen, had voluntarily closed in the morning.The FDA team discovered it was being run without an FSSAI licence and later issued a “stop business” order till it shows compliance. Govt sources said the other two were issued improvement notices.
FDA ripple effect
Bar assn says canteen got licence during day, would restart op soon
In its stop business order to the BBA canteen, FDA said non compliance of its order attracts a penalty of up to 2 lakh and continuation without valid licence can attract a prosecution under the Food Safety and Standards Act.The FDA notice to the BBA canteen, run by a contractor, said the “food business was allegedly operating without mandatory FSSAI license”.The canteen on the third floor of the HC only serves snacks to the original side members.BBA issued a notice to its members saying the canteen services “are temporarily discontinued until further intimation. This is a step initiated by the association. No adverse communication or order or notice has been received by the association from the FDA.’’
Only 45 inspectors for 200 posts (AI-generated image)
BBA president Nitin Thakker said the FDA order came after it had already voluntarily closed the canteen and informed its members about it. He added that the contractor, in the course of the day, received a licence and would resume operation soon.FDA officials said the inspections of canteens on the HC premises continued till evening, and the paperwork was ongoing after that.A small canteen only for tea next to room 36 where the appellate side bar members sit, was also shut on Thursday. Advocate Suresh Sabrad, secretary of Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI) said the canteen was shut voluntarily and that no FDA inspector showed up.The larger staff canteen on the ground floor was visited for an FDA inspection, and samples were taken, but it continued to remain operational through the day.
