Telangana HC orders statewide food safety inspections following G. Pulla Reddy Sweets licence dispute

The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed by G. Pulla Reddy Sweets challenging the suspension of its Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence following alleged hygiene violations at its Sanath Nagar premises in Hyderabad. The court, however, did not order the immediate restoration of the licence.

During the proceedings, officials informed the court that an inspection conducted on November 4 had revealed several deficiencies that continued to persist at the establishment.

The reported violations included an untidy washing area, unclean kitchen walls, cobwebs in storage and dispatch sections, milk residue in the khoa-making unit and live cockroaches in the sweet-making and baking units. Officials also reported dead insects on refrigerator lids, holes in walls, dust accumulation, rusted trays and rust on the cold-room ceiling.

The court also took note of photographs placed before it, which reportedly showed holes in walls, a worker handling food with bare hands and without a head covering, and unhygienic conditions in the cooking area and utensils.

The State government informed the court that licences of more than 17 food business operators had already been suspended as part of a statewide food safety enforcement drive.

Emphasising the need for strict implementation of food safety laws, the court directed the Commissioner of Food Safety to issue instructions to all District Food Safety Officers and Designated Officers to ensure uniform enforcement across Telangana.

Authorities were instructed to identify food business operators functioning without valid licences and prevent the sale of expired, adulterated, contaminated and unsafe food products.

The court also directed the preparation of a district-wise inspection programme covering restaurants, hotels, bakeries, sweet shops, meat and fish outlets, grocery stores, supermarkets, street food vendors, catering establishments and other food businesses.

The inspection drive must include the collection of food samples and appropriate action against establishments found violating food safety regulations.

The court further stressed the need for an effective public grievance redressal mechanism to enable consumers to report food safety violations.

It directed the authorities to conduct awareness programmes focusing on licensing requirements and safe food-handling practices.

The Commissioner of Food Safety has been asked to submit a comprehensive compliance report before the court within eight weeks.

Clarifying the scope of its directions, the High Court observed that the enforcement exercise should not be treated as a one-time campaign. Continuous monitoring and inspections must be maintained across Telangana to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

The directions underline the importance of protecting public health through consistent enforcement and accountability across the state's food business sector.