The Bombay High Court has intervened in the aggressive restaurant crackdown led by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, which saw numerous Mumbai eateries shut down instantly without prior warning.

While acknowledging the need for food safety, the court ruled that immediate license suspensions under the Food Safety and Standards Act should be strictly reserved for grave public health emergencies. For minor infractions, authorities must follow due process by issuing mandatory improvement notices rather than resorting to arbitrary shutdowns.

In a significant twist, the court also ordered surprise inspections of state-run canteens at Mantralaya and the High Court itself. Finding severe hygiene violations and contradictory official reports there, the bench directed disciplinary action against complacent inspectors. Consequently, the court has begun setting aside harsh closure orders, demanding absolute transparency, proportionality, and equal enforcement of food safety laws across both private and government establishments.