Bombay High Court orders FDA to pay Rs 5 lakh to Pune sweet shop

Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to Guru Nanak Dairy and Sweets in Pune for not revoking the suspension of its food licence despite 98% compliance. Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad quashed the suspension order and allowed the shop to reopen immediately.

The court criticised the FDA for its "strange policy" and said it was "torturing citizens" by insisting the shop file an appeal even after a re-inspection on July 13 showed near-full compliance. The judges noted that the pendency of an appeal was no bar to revoking the suspension once deficiencies were rectified.

The shop's licence was suspended on June 12 following a food poisoning complaint. Owner advocate Abhijeet Desai told the court the shop earned about Rs 25,000 daily and had suffered losses of Rs 8.5 lakh over 34 days. The FDA must deposit the compensation in court within 30 days.