Nagpur: 11 food outlets get licences back after FDA action; RTI raises questions on verification

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has run a strict campaign against food establishments in Nagpur. After licences were suspended on charges of violating hygiene rules, a new question has now arisen over what inspection follows.

According to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Adv. Sundeep Badana, the FDA took action against 16 food establishments in Nagpur district. The action was for violations of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The suspension was later lifted at at least 11 of them, after the department recorded that the prescribed conditions had been met.

The reply was given to an application dated August 18, 2026. It shows that the time taken to lift a suspension varied widely. In some cases the licence was returned in just one day, in others after several weeks.

Among the establishments named in the reply, the licence of Hira Sweets was suspended after an inspection on July 6. The suspension was lifted on July 29, after compliance was recorded. Indore Namkeen Products was inspected on July 9, and its suspension was lifted on August 24.

The licence of The Hut Family Restaurant and Dhaba was suspended after an inspection on July 11, and the suspension was lifted on July 13. Sainath Trading Company was inspected on July 17 and got its licence back on August 10. Ashoka Restaurant was inspected on July 17 and its suspension was lifted on July 24. Machan Restaurant was inspected on July 29, and its suspension was lifted on August 7.

The reply also says licences were restored, after compliance was recorded, for an establishment at Mohdikar, Koradi Temple, Super Caterers at VSPM Academy of Higher Education, and Tiwari and Company at IIIT Nagpur. Tiwari and Company was inspected on August 13, and its suspension was lifted the next day. The suspension of Super Caterers is also shown as lifted within a day of inspection. Kiara Noodles and Trading was inspected on August 14, and its suspension was lifted on August 18.

In acting against these establishments, the FDA cited violations of various provisions in Parts 2 and 5 of Schedule 4 of the 2011 Regulations. However, the reply given to the applicant mainly contains the dates of inspection, action and restoration of licence. It does not give documents of any actual re-inspection, or detailed information on which improvements were checked at each establishment.

The figures also show stricter action against some establishments. The registration of Salim Mutton Shop Chicken Centre at Mahadula was cancelled after an inspection on June 8. The registration of two establishments recorded under the name Yaarna Family Garden Restaurant at Hazaripahad is also shown as cancelled after an inspection on July 11. The licence of Indian Tandoor on Katol Road was suspended on July 12, but there is no sign against that entry that the licence was later restored. For Mother Dairy Milk Franchise too, the information provided does not show any action restoring the licence.

Food safety enforcement is being pursued vigorously under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The department has carried out inspections and raids across the state, taking action against restaurants, hotels, sweet shops and institutional food establishments. Against this background, the information assumes importance.

The RTI figures, however, raise a small but precise question. How was the claim that conditions had been met verified before suspended establishments were allowed to resume business? In the cases where suspensions were lifted, the entry reads "compliance verified by inspectors". But the available information does not give the date and details of any re-inspection, which deficiencies were rectified, or what documentary evidence was used in restoring each licence.

The point is especially important in cases where the suspension was lifted within a few days. Tiwari and Company at IIIT Nagpur was recorded as inspected on August 13, and its suspension was lifted on August 14.

The RTI applicant has raised one more point. They found that an establishment shown as having its registration cancelled in the FDA reply was still operating. But this observation cannot establish whether the establishment runs on another valid licence, whether the cancelled registration related to a particular activity, or whether a regulatory order was issued later.

Rather than presume any wrongdoing, a clarification from the FDA is therefore expected. The department can explain whether a physical re-inspection took place before the licence was restored in each case, which improvements were checked, and whether establishments whose registrations were cancelled later obtained fresh permission. The RTI has brought out the documentary picture of the action and its subsequent outcome. Whether restoring the licences was backed by equally rigorous physical verification is now the larger question. It matters for food safety and consumer protection in Nagpur.