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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: The Bombay high court on slammed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), warning of contempt action against officials after the department refused to lift the suspension of food licences of five restaurants at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises despite a fresh inspection finding them 88% compliant with food safety rules.\u201cTired of scolding the department and officers,\u201d the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad said the FDA had taken a \u201cpedantic instead of pragmatic view\u201d despite the court\u2019s earlier direction to reconsider the matter. The court ultimately vacated the suspension orders, allowing the five eateries at the MCA premises in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to reopen.The MCA had challenged the FDA\u2019s decision to suspend the restaurants\u2019 licences over alleged hygiene violations and issues relating to third-party operations. A fresh inspection conducted on Thursday found the eateries to be 88% compliant with food safety requirements.However, the FDA had initially continued with the suspension, citing the fact that the restaurants were being operated by M\/s Shirke Infrastructure, while the licences were registered in the MCA\u2019s name.On Saturday, the FDA told the court that it would issue a fresh notice to the MCA, give it an opportunity to be heard on its contractual arrangement with Shirke Infrastructure and then pass a reasoned order.Accepting the undertaking, the court said the restaurants could reopen since the latest inspection had found them compliant. \u201cThere is no provision in the law that prohibits the same,\u201d the bench observed.The court recalled that it had, during the previous hearing, specifically directed FDA officials to apply their minds and take a pragmatic approach to the licence issue.\u201cHowever, despite clearly saying this, the FDA has disobeyed our order and taken a pedantic view instead of a pragmatic view. We are tired of scolding the department and officers all the time. It is now time to pass stinging orders. We will issue contempt action against the concerned officers. Let them convince us or go to jail,” the court said.The bench also questioned why the FDA acted with \u201cundue haste\u201d without fully analysing the legal position.<\/p>\n Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n