MUMBAI: After being critical of the FDA actions on several occasions in various matters, the Bombay high court acting chief justice RV Ghuge led bench on Friday turned its ire on a Udipi eatery for allegedly using banned analog paneer.The HC, declining urgent relief to a Thane restaurant, orally remarked that it needs to “suffer” for a while for serving banned paneer to the public.The eatery, Udipi Swaad restaurant, had petitioned the HC against a recent suspension action ordered by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and sought interim relief.The ACJ and justice Gautam Ankhad, while hearing the petition by the eatery located at Wagle Estate, Thane, said, “You need to suffer first as you have made people suffer by eating this… is Poetic justice. We will take a different strict view.”The restaurant sought that FDA action be stayed and instead, it be directed to first issue an improvement notice, which the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act mandates and provides for to comply with license conditions.The FDA standing counsel PP Kakade said action was justified in public interest and in keeping with its state-wide prohibition.
