Food inspector gives clean chit to Delhi's Kake-Da-Hotel, declares it most hygienic places

The court withdrew the order after a food safety inspector submitted report revealing that the eating joint was now one of the most hygienic places in the city.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The eating joint was now one of the most hygienic places in the city: Court
• The department had issued a notice on February 22 for emergency prohibition to Mehak Cuisines Pvt Ltd
• There was no evidence of dough being kneaded by foot.

Putting an end to the controversy related to the hygiene standards of the famous eatery-Kake-Da-Hotel on Connaught Circus, the Delhi High Court ordered withdrawal of notice issued to it by food safety department.

The court withdrew the order after a food safety inspector submitted report revealing that the eating joint was now one of the most hygienic places in the city.

To this, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said, "Hygiene and safety standards have to be maintained across all eating joints in the city and the food safety department cannot just pick and choose restaurants or other eating joints to implement this.

The food safety officer also assured the court that it would inspect all eateries and restaurants and action would be taken against those not complying with the mandatory safety and hygenic standard requirements.

WHAT HAPPENED

The famous food eatery had entered a controversy after a video went viral on social media showing a man allegedly kneading dough with his feet atop the hotel's terrace. The video attracted notice from the food safety department of the Delhi government. In its defence, the eatery said it has complied with all requirements, barring two deficiencies being lack of hands-free taps and a chimney, which it said would be rectified within a week.

The department had issued a notice on February 22 for emergency prohibition to Mehak Cuisines Pvt Ltd, which runs the eatery.

During the brief hearing on Thursday, the food safety officer (FSO) told the court that when he inspected the premises on February 28, there was a dough kneading machine installed, though it was not there during earlier inspections.

Advocate Chander M Lall, appearing for Mehak Cuisines, said there was no evidence of dough being kneaded by foot. He also said the standards which Kake da Hotel was being asked to maintain, was not being followed in other eating joints, including the lawyers' canteen of the Delhi High Court.