Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital Canteen Closes As Operator Withdraws Over Missing Licences
Satkar Caterers, the operator running the canteen at the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Municipal General Hospital in Jogeshwari East, withdrew its services on August 3 citing an inability to meet statutory licensing requirements. The sudden exit has prompted questions regarding how the facility operated for years without mandatory civic and safety clearances.
In a formal letter submitted to the hospital's Medical Superintendent, the catering firm stated that it was discontinuing services with immediate effect because it could not secure necessary compliances, which include Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registrations, health licences, and fire department clearances.
A representative from Satkar Caterers stated that the primary obstacle was the lack of an official agreement from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). According to the representative, the firm had formally requested an agreement letter from the BMC in order to complete the paperwork for fire safety licences and other regulatory permissions. Because the civic body did not issue the document, the operator chose to vacate the premises.
The hospital administration disputed the vendor's claims. Medical Superintendent Dr Niranjan Kshirsagar said that the caterer was repeatedly instructed to apply for and submit all required permits but failed to do so. He stated that the operator remained reluctant to produce the necessary documentation and eventually abandoned the canteen following pressure to comply with statutory norms.
The hospital management noted that a memo had previously been issued by the Medical Health Officer regarding multiple violations. A civic official further alleged that the caterer had occupied space inside the hospital without valid authorisation, reportedly in connivance with a former hospital official, resulting in civic revenue losses over the past four to five years.
The licensing gaps came to light following intensified enforcement and inspections against food safety violations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As part of precautionary measures, the civic administration directed the canteen operator to furnish all mandatory approvals, exposing several compliance lapses.
Health activist Chetan Kothari raised concerns over the oversight, questioning how the facility was permitted to function on municipal hospital grounds without complete documentation and demanding an inquiry into the matter.
