Savitribai Phule Pune University has cancelled the contract of the private operator running its girls’ hostel mess after the Food and Drug Administration suspended the contractor’s licence for 14 days following an inspection that found cockroaches and other unhygienic conditions on the premises.
The FDA inspection was conducted on Tuesday, followed by a hearing on Thursday over violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Ajinkya Umap, a food safety officer, said the licence suspension was temporary and that the contractor could rectify the deficiencies during the 14-day period. The FDA could revoke the suspension after a re-inspection if the violations were addressed.
The university, however, decided to end the contract instead of allowing the operator to resume service under the temporary suspension framework. Prafulla Pawar, the university’s registrar, said the decision followed the FDA action and the closure of the mess.
Students from the girls’ hostel have been directed to eat at the university’s main refectory until further notice. The arrangement shifts the immediate food-service responsibility to an existing campus facility while the university begins the process of appointing a new operator.
“We have directed the students to have their meals at the main refectory until further notice, following the closure of their mess,” Pawar said. He added that the university was already scheduled to issue tender notices for several shops that had remained closed, and that the hostel mess would also be included in the tender process.
The university has also asked the contractor to refund students’ fees if any payments were collected in advance. The report did not specify the number of students affected, the amount of fees collected or the precise duration of the interim arrangement at the main refectory.
The case places food safety at a residential educational facility under both regulatory and institutional scrutiny. The FDA’s action addresses compliance with food-safety requirements, while the university’s contract cancellation determines how dining services will be managed for students during the transition.
The next step is the university’s tender process for appointing a new mess operator. Any new contractor will also remain subject to applicable food-safety requirements and regulatory inspection.
