The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences and registration of five outlets operating at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises in Bandra-Kurla Complex after inspections found multiple food safety and hygiene violations. The outlets, Permit Room, Pavilion, Mediterranean, Oriental Swing and Clubway & Pastry Counter, were inspected on August 20, with suspension orders issued the following day.
The FDA flagged issues including poor refrigeration, unhygienic food handling and storage, inadequate temperature control and sanitation lapses. It also found that the outlets were being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure, although the food licences were issued in the MCA’s name. The MCA challenged the action before the Bombay High Court, saying the premises were now over 98% compliant. On August 25, the court ordered a fresh FDA inspection on August 27 and allowed only tea and coffee through vending machines until then.
What Did The FDA Find?
The inspection reports pointed to several problems across the five outlets. At Permit Room, officials found ice accumulation inside a refrigerator, an unclean and slippery kitchen floor, inadequate temperature control, deteriorated raw materials and gaps in food storage. Pavilion was flagged for poor segregation of food in cold storage, improper thawing and inadequate refrigeration calibration.
Mediterranean had shortcomings in equipment sanitation, cooling, thawing, portioning and temperature control. Oriental Swing had an improperly calibrated refrigerator, an unclean floor, damaged ceiling plaster and inadequate sanitation. At Clubway & Pastry Counter, inspectors reported insufficient workspace, improper raw-food storage and a food handler without gloves, along with inadequate protection against dust, dirt and insects. The FDA also said invoices for raw-material purchases and customers were issued by Shirke Infrastructure, despite the licences being in MCA’s name.
An FDA official told The Indian Express that the four restaurant licences and one registration certificate were suspended because the food business was being conducted by an entity that was not eligible to operate under those permissions.
What Happens Next?
The action is part of a wider Maharashtra food-safety drive in which the FDA inspected 45 hotels, restaurants, eateries and dhabas, conducted 25 raids and issued improvement notices to 33 establishments. Eleven food establishments had their licences suspended during the drive. The MCA subsequently approached the Bombay High Court, arguing that the regulator should have first issued an improvement notice and allowed the deficiencies to be corrected.
Representing the MCA, senior advocate Vikram Nankani told the court that the premises were now more than 98% compliant. The FDA maintained that serious violations had been detected and that it would respond to the petition. The High Court said strict enforcement was justified where serious hygiene breaches were found, but also observed that a suspension should not continue once deficiencies have been rectified.
It directed the MCA to clean the premises before the FDA’s fresh inspection on August 27, with the regulator expected to submit its report before the next hearing.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a matter of public trust and basic dignity. Whether food is served at a neighbourhood eatery, a school or a prominent sporting institution, consumers should be able to expect the same minimum standards of cleanliness and safe handling.
At the same time, enforcement works best when it combines firm accountability with a clear opportunity for businesses to understand and correct violations. The Bombay High Court’s decision to seek a fresh inspection offers a constructive path: protect public health, ensure transparent compliance and allow businesses that genuinely fix their shortcomings to resume operations. What do you think is the fairest way to balance strict food-safety enforcement with giving establishments a chance to rectify violations?
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