The Bombay High Court directs Maharashtra’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to promptly revoke licence suspension or cancellation orders once an establishment rectifies the deficiencies identified by regulators. The court issues the instruction in response to cases in which facilities comply with required changes but their suspensions or cancellations are not lifted.
In an August 28 order reported by multiple outlets, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad says it has noticed that even after deficiencies are cured, regulators continue inaction. The judges add that delaying revocation can prevent businesses from operating, leading to financial losses, impacts on employees, and disruptions in supply chains. The court also describes repeated litigation as avoidable and notes prior directions involving compensatory payment in a similar context.
The reports focus on a specific matter involving Siddharth Agro, which procures, stores and supplies raw milk to dairy processing units in Maharashtra. The FDA, Pune, suspended Siddharth Agro’s licence on July 15 after a July 29 re-inspection found deficiencies remained; the High Court directed an inspection for August 31. The court instructs the FDA that when it is satisfied—through a compliance report—it must “forthwith” revoke the suspension or cancellation order.
