The Bombay High Court questioned the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration's cleanliness certificate for the Mantralaya canteen on July 31, 2026 [1].
The court's intervention highlights potential lapses in government oversight and the necessity for impartial health inspections within state-run facilities. Because the canteen serves the State Secretariat, any failure in hygiene standards could impact the health of high-ranking government officials and staff.
A bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad scrutinized a certificate issued by the FDA, which rated the canteen as 98% clean [1], [2]. The court expressed skepticism regarding the precision of this numerical rating and the validity of the hygiene claim [3].
To verify the actual conditions of the premises, the court ordered an immediate inspection. This team will include four lawyers who will accompany the FDA to re-examine the facility [4]. The court said the FDA must act fairly and impartially to ensure the canteen meets necessary safety standards [2], [3].
The proceedings center on whether the FDA provided a superficial assessment or a rigorous audit of the dining area. By involving legal professionals in the inspection process, the court is adding a layer of independent verification to the regulatory process.
This move follows concerns that the FDA may have been lenient toward a facility located within the seat of government power. The court said it intends to ensure that the health and safety of the public and government employees are not compromised by inaccurate reporting [2].
“The court questioned the FDA's '98% clean' certificate for the Mantralaya canteen.”
This judicial intervention signals a lack of trust in the Maharashtra FDA's internal auditing processes. By appointing a team of lawyers to oversee a technical health inspection, the Bombay High Court is treating the cleanliness rating not just as a health matter, but as a question of administrative integrity and transparency within the state government.
