98% Score, 34 Days Shut: HC Orders Compensation for Sweet Shop
What Happened
The Bombay High Court pulled up Maharashtra's Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for keeping Pune-based Gurunanak Dairy and Sweets shut despite a re-inspection showing 98% compliance with food safety norms. The court revoked the licence suspension, allowed the shop to reopen, and ordered the FDA to pay ₹5 lakh compensation. The court said the FDA's continued closure order was "perversity" and amounted to "torturing citizens", noting that once the shop achieved 98% compliance, authorities should have immediately restored its licence.
Key Takeaways
While endorsing strict food safety enforcement, the court stressed that regulators must act fairly and promptly when businesses rectify shortcomings. The shop remained closed for 34 days and reportedly suffered revenue losses of around ₹8.5 lakh.