The Bombay High Court has refused to entertain a petition challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) order restricting the sale of junk food within 50 metres of schools.
The petition challenged the FDA’s directive aimed at preventing the sale of unhealthy food items in the immediate vicinity of educational institutions. The move is intended to protect schoolchildren from easy access to junk food and promote healthier eating habits.
The petitioner sought the court’s intervention against the restrictions imposed by the FDA. However, the High Court declined to hear the plea, leaving the regulatory order in place.
The FDA’s directive applies to shops and food outlets operating within a 50-metre radius of schools. The authorities have been pushing for stricter implementation of food-safety measures around educational institutions, particularly with concerns over children’s increasing consumption of processed and high-calorie foods.
The development is likely to strengthen the FDA’s efforts to regulate the sale of junk food around schools in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.
The court’s refusal to entertain the petition means that establishments covered by the FDA order will have to comply with the restrictions unless the directive is subsequently modified or challenged through an appropriate legal proceeding.
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