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Business
Mumbai High Court Criticises FDA Over Milk Vendor Licence Suspensions, Grants Interim Stay
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 27 Jul 2026, 08:19 PM
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The Bombay High Court has rebuked the Food and Drugs Authority for suspending licences of milk vendors and has issued an interim stay on the orders, citing procedural lapses.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday criticised the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for suspending licences of several milk vendors in the city and granted an interim stay on the suspensions. The court said the FDA had not followed the required procedure before taking the action and that the vendors were left without a clear legal basis for the suspensions.
The FDA had earlier announced that licences of 35 milk vendors would be suspended pending an investigation into alleged violations of health and safety norms. The vendors, who supply milk to local markets and households, argued that the suspensions were arbitrary and had caused significant financial loss.
In its order, the court directed the FDA to provide a detailed explanation of the grounds for the suspensions and to allow the affected vendors to submit their case for review. The court also warned that any further action without a proper hearing would be unlawful.
The interim stay is expected to give the milk vendors time to seek relief and to ensure that the FDA follows due process before any permanent licence revocation. The case highlights the need for transparent regulatory practices in the dairy sector.
The FDA had earlier announced that licences of 35 milk vendors would be suspended pending an investigation into alleged violations of health and safety norms. The vendors, who supply milk to local markets and households, argued that the suspensions were arbitrary and had caused significant financial loss.
In its order, the court directed the FDA to provide a detailed explanation of the grounds for the suspensions and to allow the affected vendors to submit their case for review. The court also warned that any further action without a proper hearing would be unlawful.
The interim stay is expected to give the milk vendors time to seek relief and to ensure that the FDA follows due process before any permanent licence revocation. The case highlights the need for transparent regulatory practices in the dairy sector.