The Bombay High Court has suggested that major restaurants and eateries across Maharashtra maintain dedicated websites or social media handles where citizens can post reviews and feedback regarding hygiene, food quality and taste.
The suggestion was made by a Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad while hearing a matter concerning food safety and the suspension of licences of certain establishments.
The Court observed that such online platforms could provide consumers with an accessible mechanism to share their experiences regarding the cleanliness and quality of food served at restaurants.
The Bench suggested that the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider amending its rules to facilitate such a public feedback mechanism for major eateries.
The Court’s suggestion would allow customers to publicly report concerns relating to:
Food hygiene and cleanliness;
Quality of food;
Taste and overall food standards; and
Conditions observed at the concerned establishment.
The Court also considered the growing role of social media platforms such as Instagram as a means through which consumers can communicate their experiences and provide feedback.
The proposed mechanism would supplement the existing regulatory system by allowing consumer feedback to act as an additional layer of public scrutiny over food establishments.
The Court’s observations came in the matter of Mumbai Cricket Association v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. and were made in the context of food safety and regulatory action against eateries.
The suggestion is significant because food safety is generally monitored through regulatory inspections, licensing requirements and enforcement action. A structured public feedback mechanism could provide regulators with additional information about recurring hygiene or food-quality concerns.
However, such a system would also need appropriate safeguards to prevent fake, malicious or unverified complaints from unfairly affecting restaurants.
The Bombay High Court’s suggestion therefore seeks to promote greater transparency, consumer participation and accountability in the food service industry.
The larger message is clear: food hygiene should not depend solely on inspections by authorities; consumers can also play an important role in identifying and reporting concerns about food safety and cleanliness.
