‘Be fair to all’: Bombay High Court on ‘Mantralaya kitchen 98% okay’ report | Mumbai News

July 31, 2026 Headlinesnews

3 min readUpdated: Jul 31, 2026 01:20 PM IST

The Bombay High Court on Friday ordered a team of four lawyers to inspect the canteen at Mantralaya (state secretariat) after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed it that the inspection report showed 98 percent compliance. The High Court said that while it appreciates the FDA’s efforts, the authority should be “equal to all” and cannot target only private establishments for violations of food safety and hygiene norms.

On Wednesday, July 29, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad, while hearing a plea against the suspension of the FSSAI licence of a four-star Navi Mumbai hotel, remarked that the actions should not be limited to premises run by businesspersons such as the petitioner. The court also questioned whether the Mantralaya canteen and establishments run by ministers or others were also being inspected for violations of food safety norms.

The High Court also sought details from the Maharashtra government on inspections conducted at food establishments run by the government and semi-government institutions, statutory authorities, or those given a contract by the government departments.

A day later, FDA officials also inspected canteens on the High Court premises, amongst other public institutions.

In the pre-lunch session on Friday, the lawyer representing the FDA informed the court that the Mantralaya canteen inspection showed 98% compliance.

Not a single insect? If we send some lawyers and if they find something, then we will take action against you. One fly in the petitioner’s hotel (Navi Mumbai) and you suspended the licence,” the bench orally remarked.

Acting CJ Ghuge also said that earlier a bench of Justice (now retired) A P Shah had inspected one such premises. “We can do it now. What is wrong in visiting? Lawyers will go there and come back and tell us. The Mantralaya canteen is absolutely open and there is not a single fly? On private property there is one fly and Mantralaya is 98% compliant. What is the footfall in the canteen normally? It must be higher. We want lawyers to do a trip to the Mantralaya and let them tender a report.”

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The HC also asked the FDA to show it the videography and pictures of the Mantralaya canteen inspection.

“You thought you can get away by telling the court that the Mantralaya canteen, having a private contractor, everything is spick-and-span. You thought you can get away by showing us a report. You never thought that lawyers would agree to visit the Mantralaya canteen. Be uniform and fair to all. You can’t target only private properties and you are saying statutory properties are 98% compliant. Show us those photographs and pictures. Otherwise we will indulge in the matter,” the HC orally remarked.

It ordered the lawyers’ team to inspect the Mantralaya canteen along with FDA officers and apprise the court of the situation in the post-lunch session.

Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.

Expertise & Authority

Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.

Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale’s work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:

Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court’s principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:

Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).

Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).

Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.

Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.

Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.

Omkar Gokhale’s consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. … Read More

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