MUMBAI: The canteen run by the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) inside the Bombay high court temporarily suspended its services on Thursday, a day after the high court directed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inspect government and semi-government canteens for compliance with food safety norms, according to news agency PTI.Earlier in the day, FDA officials visited the high court canteen. However, the BBA said the decision to temporarily stop operations was taken voluntarily and was not the result of any action by the regulator.“This is a step initiated by the association. No adverse communication or order or notice has been received by the association from the FDA pursuant to their visit on 30th July 2026,” BBA secretary Naushad Engineer clarified in a statement.The association said the canteen, located inside the high court premises in south Mumbai, would resume services shortly.On Wednesday, the high court questioned whether food safety rules were being implemented uniformly across the state. It directed the FDA to inspect all government and semi-government eating establishments, including the canteens at Mantralaya and the Bombay high court, and submit inspection reports along with video recordings.During the hearing, government pleader Neha Bhide told the court that the FDA was not following a “pick and choose” approach. She said canteens at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), KEM Hospital, the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and several other prominent clubs in Mumbai had also been inspected and shut for food safety violations.The matter will be heard again on July 31, when the FDA is expected to submit details of inspections carried out across the state.
