Bombay HC tells Thane eatery to appeal to FDA chief before court

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed a restaurant to first file an appeal with the FDA commissioner before approaching the court against a license suspension. The directive applies to Udupi Swaad restaurant in Thane. The eatery had petitioned the court against the Maharashtra FDA's suspension action, citing evidence of purchasing 1 kg of loose paneer. It challenged the suspension without an improvement notice or reasoned order, while FDA counsel noted the legal right to appeal first. The court, led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, orally stated the restaurant must exhaust available legal remedies before seeking judicial intervention. This follows the court's recent criticism of the regulator in other matters.