Bombay HC Fines Maharashtra FDA Rs 5 Lakh Over License Suspension

The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation to a Pune sweet shop owner for maintaining a license suspension despite the shop achieving a 98% compliance score.

The court criticized the FDA for using its regulatory power like a 'sword to kill a mosquito,' noting that the shop had already rectified the minor issues identified during the initial inspection.

This ruling serves as a stern warning to state regulatory bodies to exercise their powers with restraint and proportionality, ensuring that small businesses are not unfairly targeted by bureaucratic overreach.