MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Wednesday asked the State to inform whether all eating houses including canteens run by state, semi-state authorities were being inspected in the ongoing FDA drive to ensure commercial kitchens are hygienically compliant and directed that a fresh inspection be carried out at Mantralaya canteen.The HC said the report be submitted on Friday. The order came while hearing a plea by a Navi Mumbai hotel that challenged a suspension of the FSSAI license.With only around two cockroaches preventing the FDA from lifting its suspension order for a Navi Mumbai hotel following its bid at compliance of Central food safety and hygiene norms, HC said it would set aside the FSSAI license suspension.“We are in India we have to take realistic stand,’’ said the Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge orally as he and Justice Gautam Ankhad heard a petition filed on July 6 by Park Inn by Radisson hotel through its Human resource head, against a July 3 license suspension order under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.“‘We are in India. We have to take a realistic stand. I was speaking of flies earlier, there is one here now,” ACJ RV Ghuge’s oral remark during the hearing.There is currently a lot of discussion about the crackdown by this department across the state. However, it is not right to limit the action to private establishments only..“So far, how many government establishments have you (FDA) inspected or taken action against? Have you inspected the canteen in the High Court from where our food comes? Have you ever inspected the most important building in the state, the Mantralaya, which is right behind us?” ACJ RV Ghuge added.On July 20 the HC had passed orders for a re-inspection by an FDA panel on the hotel’s claim of compliance and the FDA in a July 22 report gave the hotel a 95 % compliance nod, but under a dishwasher and the sweets preparation (halwai) area had “cockroach infestation.’’At the hearing on Wednesday, hotel’s counsel Mayur Khandeparkar with advocates Shubhra Swami and Sagar Shetty said there were only two cockroaches.The hotel’s lawyers submitted a note to the HC saying, “Mere presence of two insects (cockroaches) is a not a reason sufficient to place the establishment…under suspension’’ especially when all other compliances were met and argued thus that the continued suspension was arbitrary.Government pleader Neha Bhide said the second inspection report was submitted.The report showed compliance with all parameters on maintenance and sanitation, design, control of operation including clean cutlery, crockery, incoming material, food storage in hygienic environment, compliance of cooking oil, food grade wrapping material, proper segregation of raw, cooked, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.“There is no ‘pick and choose’ policy in the ongoing FDA drive; canteens of BMC, KEM Hospital, canteens of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and other top Mumbai clubs were also inspected and closed over food safety violations,” Bhide said.The 10 page report also checked for cleaning of equipment, drains designed to meet load and cockroach traps, ‘pest control programme and preventive maintenance’ and declared compliance.But FDA gave 4 points less for two roaches said Khandeparkar, assuring that all measures are taken since to eradicate the pests.The FDA officials present in court said Mantralaya canteen was inspected, but last year.The Mantralaya canteen’s FSSAI license was also suspended last year the govt lawyer said.“So do the inspection again now,’’ said the HC. The govt sought a day.Bhide said due to the recent FDA drive, the hygiene and sanitation across restaurants and eating houses have “improved.’’A detailed order of the HC would be available later.
