FDA Awaits Replies from Five MCA BKC Restaurants Over Licence Violations
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration is awaiting responses to notices issued to five restaurants situated at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises in the Bandra-Kurla Complex over third-party contracting arrangements, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe confirmed.
The regulatory action follows issues surrounding the operational setup at the sports facility, where the Mumbai Cricket Association is listed as the registered food business operator, while outside operators run the kitchens. Commissioner Mundhe stated that the Mumbai Cricket Association holds the registration, but the entity actually running the food establishments does not possess its own registration or licence.
Mundhe explained that food business licences are issued strictly to a particular entity for a designated location and a specific business activity. Under the law, one organization cannot obtain a licence and allow another entity to conduct commercial food operations under its name without proper authorisation.
The five establishments facing regulatory scrutiny within the Bandra-Kurla Complex facility are Permit Room, Pavilion, Mediterranean, Oriental Swing, and Clubway & Pastry Counter. All five eateries were being run by third-party contractor Shirke Infrastructure, even though the food business operator licences were issued under the name of the Mumbai Cricket Association.
Previously, the state food authority had suspended the licences of all five restaurants due to hygiene lapses and structural violations found on the premises. That suspension was subsequently lifted last month following an intervention by the Bombay High Court.
Despite the lifting of the earlier suspension, Mundhe said the eateries must still address the legality of their third-party operating arrangement. Notices were served following court directives to determine whether licences taken by the sports body could be legally utilized by another firm.
The FDA commissioner emphasized that only entities that formally secure their own licences are permitted to operate food businesses. The authority will issue its final orders once the restaurants submit their formal replies to the notices.
