Bombay High Court

Bombay HC slams FDA for 'pedantic' view, clears reopening of 5 MCA eateries

The Maharashtra FDA on Saturday said it would withdraw its order suspending the licences of five restaurants operating on the Mumbai Cricket Association premises, after the Bombay High Court warned of stinging orders against officials for taking a "pedantic instead of pragmatic view" of the situation. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad vacated the suspension after a fresh inspection report submitted by the FDA confirmed that the eateries located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex area were 88 per cent compliant with food safety rules. The MCA had approached the high court challenging the FDA's decision to suspend operations over alleged hygiene violations and third-party operational irregularities. Although a fresh inspection carried out on Thursday showed 88 per cent compliance, the FDA had initially maintained the suspension because the eateries were being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure despite the licences being registered in the MCA

Tarun Tejpal moves SC challenging Bombay HC conviction in 2013 rape case

The appeal comes a day after the Goa government moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay High Court's order on Tarun Tejpal's sentence and seeking life imprisonment for him

Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh after Bombay HC order on licence suspension

The order came after Tukaram Mundhe-led FDA continued to keep the food licence of a sweet shop suspended despite the shop achieving 98 per cent compliance with food safety norms

SC quashes Bombay HC order granting interim protection to Sunil Biyani

The apex court ruled that the High Court could not grant protection from a possible future arrest after finding Biyani's anticipatory bail application to be premature

Use power judiciously, not like sword to kill mosquito: Bombay HC warns FDA

Observing that the Maharashtra FDA is using a sword to kill a mosquito and "shoots first" before asking questions, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the regulator to use its power judiciously, warning of imposing heavy costs as cases of its drastic actions have come to its notice. Hearing a petition filed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals challenging the FDA's action on select drugs, the high court directed the agency to grant the company a hearing before taking any drastic action. Following the remarks made by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, the FDA submitted that the regulator will revoke its orders against the petitioner, issue show-cause notices, and grant it a hearing before passing a reasoned order. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd has challenged the FDA's decision to bar the sale and distribution of some of its medicines and seizure of stock worth Rs 2.45 crore across the state over branding similarities. Government pleader Neha Bhide

Tehelka ex-editor Tarun Tejpal gets 10-year jail term in 2013 rape case

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court overturned the ruling of a Sessions Court in Mapusa, which had acquitted Tejpal in the 2013 rape case.

Bombay HC orders takedown of abusive deepfake content targeting Gadkari

The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory AI-generated content targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while protecting the right to fair criticism

Bombay HC orders takedown of abusive deepfake content targeting Gadkari

The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory AI-generated content targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while protecting the right to fair criticism

Bombay HC orders takedown of abusive deepfake content targeting Gadkari

The Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to remove allegedly defamatory AI-generated content targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while protecting the right to fair criticism

Bombay HC orders removal of defamatory posts against Nitin Gadkari

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted interim relief to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, ordering Meta, X and Google to immediately remove all the "vile, abusive, obscene and defamatory" social media posts targeting him. A single-judge bench of Justice Arif Doctor issued the direction while hearing a civil defamation suit filed by the Minister for Road Transport and Highways challenging a series of AI-generated deepfake videos and manipulated digital posts that falsely alleged Gadkari and his family received illegal financial benefits from the Centre's ethanol-blended petrol (E20) initiative. "These posts, on the face of it, are abusive, vile, and obscene," Justice Doctor said, adding, "The material on the face of it is absolutely vile and abusive. Such material should have no place on a public platform, which is accessible to everyone, including the younger generation." The bench directed Meta, X Corp and Google LLC to ensure forthwith that the posts are taken down. Justice Doct

AlcoBev makers challenge FSSAI directive over flavoring norms in HCs

AlcoBev makers -- United Spirits and Associated Alcohol & Breweries -- have moved the Bombay High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court, respectively, challenging the FSSAI directive that indicted them for adding flavours that mimic a product's natural profile. Leading player United Spirits Ltd, part of British multinational Diageo PLC, has moved the Bombay High Court against the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). While Associated Alcohol & Breweries Ltd had moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 31 against the notice issued by the food regulator. The Indore bench of the High Court has scheduled the case for hearing on Wednesday. Besides, this matter is also being taken up with the FSSAI by the respective industry associations, CIABC (Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies) and ISWAI (International Spirits & Wines Association of India). USL, in a regulatory filing, said it has "filed a Writ Petition before the Bombay High .

Bombay HC questions FDA's '98% clean' rating for Mantralaya canteen

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to be "fair, impartial and uniform" in its drive concerning hotels and eateries, including those in government and semi-government establishments, the Bombay High Court noted on Friday, questioning the agency's "98 per cent clean" certificate to the Mantralaya canteen. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad ordered a team of four lawyers to immediately visit and inspect the Mantralaya canteen and report to the court in the afternoon on the situation there. Within hours of the directive, the FDA, accompanied by lawyers, inspected the canteen at the state secretariat to check for hygiene and food safety standards. Earlier in the day, the FDA submitted to the court a chart detailing all eateries and canteens, including the three on the high court premises and at Mantralaya, as well as private clubs across the city. According to the chart, the Mantralaya canteen received a 98 per cent cleanliness

Maharashtra FDA conducts inspection of canteens at Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has inspected canteens operating within the Bombay High Court premises, an official said on Friday. An FDA official told PTI that a team inspected the canteens at the high court on Thursday and was preparing a report. "Our team did inspect the canteens of the Bombay High Court. We are preparing a report on it. Once we file the report to our higher authorities, a statement will be issued regarding the same," the official said. Ever since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as the FDA commissioner in May, the department has inspected several establishments, including several well-known food joints, across the state. The FDA's crackdown on milk adulteration has also led to the closure of several milk collection centres and dairies. Recently, the FDA suspended the food business licences of the Cricket Club of India, the MIG Cricket Club in Bandra East, and three other clubs in Mumbai for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene

HC to hear Gadkari's plea against Meta, others over AI deepfakes on Aug 5

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said it would hear on August 5 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's suit against Meta, X Corp, Google LLC and unknown persons for "defamatory" deepfakes and AI-generated posts uploaded against him over the ethanol policy. The bench of Justice Arif Doctor directed the Union minister's advocate Sandeep Ladda to serve the respondents copies of the civil suit, seeking a permanent injunction against the circulation of posts that allegedly tarnished his reputation. Gadkari, in his plea, sought an immediate takedown of all fake and fabricated content, along with an injunction against the circulation of such content. The senior BJP leader, who is serving as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has claimed that several fake, AI-generated and defamatory posts were available online regarding the ethanol-blended fuel issue. Unknown persons have uploaded and circulated posts and deepfake content falsely portraying him as being personally responsible for

Bombay HC clears Gadkari's ₹11 crore defamation suit over alleged deepfakes

High Court permits Union minister to file civil suit against Meta, Google, X and unidentified persons over allegedly fabricated social media posts

Bombay HC permits Gadkari to sue Meta, X, others over defamatory deepfakes

The Bombay High Court on Monday permitted Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC and other unknown persons over "defamatory" deepfakes and AI-generated posts uploaded against him. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and senior BJP leader had filed a leave petition under Clause XII of Letters Patent, a procedural requirement wherein permission of the court is sought before filing of a suit, when part of the cause of action arises outside the territorial jurisdiction of the high court. Such leave (permission) is necessary to enable the court to hear and decide a suit despite jurisdictional limitations. Gadkari's leave petition came up for hearing on Monday before a single bench of Justice Abhay Ahuja. His lawyer Sandeep Ladda submitted that online platforms have made alleged defamatory and deepfake content publicly available, including to users in Maharashtra. Since this content is accessible here, Ladda argued that

Bombay HC cancels Shiv Sena corporator's bail in doctors assault case

Ramesh Mhatre has been asked to surrender by 5 pm on Sunday, July 19

Plea before SC seeks CBI probe into 'KG Basin gas extraction' by Reliance

The petitioner has challenged the High Court's refusal to order a CBI investigation into allegations that Reliance Industries extracted gas from an adjoining ONGC block

SC reserves verdict on Centre's plea against relief to Sunil Biyani

The Supreme Court questioned the legal basis of the Bombay High Court's interim protection to Future Group director Sunil Biyani in a GST investigation after holding his plea premature

Bombay HC sets aside ACB order directing FIR against former Sebi officials

The Bombay High Court has quashed an ACB court order directing registration of an FIR against former Sebi officials, citing the absence of a cognisable offence