No extra officers, tougher enforcement: What FSSAI praised in Tukaram Mundhe’s FDA drive

FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani has backed Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s aggressive food safety enforcement drive, saying his work shows that stronger action is possible even with existing manpower.

The endorsement comes days after the Bombay High Court criticised the FDA over what it described as excessive haste and a disproportionate approach in separate enforcement cases.

FSSAI chief backs Mundhe

Speaking to India Today TV, FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani praised Mundhe’s work in Maharashtra and said the enforcement drive demonstrated that food safety officials could achieve more with existing resources.

Punhani said Mundhe had carried out the crackdown with the same team and without additional recruitment of food safety officers.

He described the effort as an example of the principle that "if there's a will, there's a way".

The Maharashtra FDA has conducted extensive inspections of restaurants, food businesses, warehouses and other establishments as part of the enforcement campaign. The department has reported thousands of inspections and hundreds of licence suspensions in recent months.

‘Food safety is not a punishment posting’

Punhani also addressed the longstanding perception that being appointed food safety commissioner is a "punishment posting".

He said food safety departments had historically received less attention than the broader health system, where established structures such as doctors and primary health centres have existed for decades.

According to Punhani, food safety is a relatively newer area and food safety commissioners in several states are given additional responsibilities rather than serving in dedicated positions.

He argued that states should have separate, full-time food safety commissioners.

"Because no one paid any attention. We would rather be in health," Punhani said while explaining why the post had acquired its reputation.

He added that if food safety were considered sufficiently important, states should have dedicated commissioners instead of assigning the responsibility as an additional charge.

Push for dedicated food safety chiefs

Punhani said having a dedicated food safety commissioner in every state should now be considered necessary.

The argument comes as food safety enforcement has received greater public attention through high-profile inspections and action against businesses.

Punhani said Mundhe's campaign had helped highlight the importance of food safety departments and the role of commissioners in enforcing regulations.

Bombay High Court criticises Maharashtra FDA

The FSSAI chief's praise comes shortly after the Bombay High Court criticised the Maharashtra FDA over the manner in which it handled several enforcement cases.

On August 30, the court questioned the FDA's approach in cases involving restaurants at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises in Bandra-Kurla Complex and a drug licence cancellation involving a Cipla facility in Pune.

In the restaurant matter, the court criticised what it described as "undue haste" and said the FDA had taken a "pedantic instead of pragmatic view".

The bench also questioned whether the regulator believed it could act without properly applying the law.

The court asked, "Do you feel you are a Lord and you can do anything?"

FDA withdraws restaurant suspension order

Following the court's intervention, the FDA informed the High Court that it would withdraw its order suspending the operations of five restaurants at the MCA premises.

The court noted that a fresh inspection found the eateries to be 88 per cent compliant with food safety requirements.

The licences had also been suspended over the fact that the restaurants were being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure despite the licences being in the name of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

The court said it found no legal provision prohibiting such an arrangement and had previously directed the FDA to take a pragmatic view.

After the FDA agreed to issue a fresh notice, provide a hearing and pass a reasoned order, the court accepted the position and allowed the restaurants to reopen.

Cipla licence cancellation also withdrawn

In a separate matter, the High Court dealt with the FDA's cancellation of the drug sale licences of Cipla Pharma and Life Sciences Ltd's carrying and forwarding facility at Wadki in Pune.

The licences had been cancelled with effect from August 27 following alleged violations detected during a follow-up investigation linked to the packaging and recall of Reactin Plus tablets.

The court criticised the procedure adopted by the FDA, including the timing of a hearing notice sent to the company.

It said the regulator had acted in a "high-handed" manner and that the order was against the "principles of natural justice".

The FDA subsequently agreed to withdraw the cancellation order.

Enforcement versus due process

The contrasting developments highlight the balance regulators must maintain between strict enforcement and following due process.

Punhani has defended the importance of stronger food safety enforcement and pointed to Mundhe's campaign as evidence that existing teams can make a significant impact.

The High Court, however, has stressed that aggressive enforcement cannot come at the expense of legal procedure, proper hearings and proportionality.

The court's criticism does not amount to a rejection of food safety enforcement itself. Its observations have focused on how particular orders were issued and whether the FDA properly considered the circumstances and applicable law.

Why the Mundhe debate matters

The developments have placed two aspects of food regulation in focus: the need for stronger enforcement and the need for accountable enforcement.

Punhani's comments suggest that FSSAI wants food safety administration to receive greater institutional importance, including through dedicated commissioners in every state.

Mundhe's Maharashtra campaign has demonstrated the visibility that intensive enforcement can generate. At the same time, the Bombay High Court's recent interventions show the legal limits within which regulators must operate.

The larger issue is therefore not whether food safety rules should be enforced, but how firmly and fairly they should be enforced.

For state food safety departments, the episode could strengthen calls for dedicated personnel and resources while also highlighting the importance of legally sound procedures, proportional action and opportunities for affected businesses to respond.