Fri May 16 09:56:56 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Madras High Court has overturned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) suspension of A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited’s license. The dairy, based in Dindigul, was accused of supplying ghee adulterated with foreign fat, instead of pure milk fat, to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for the preparation of the famous laddu prasadam. The court found fault with the way the suspension was carried out and has ordered the licensing authority to reconsider the decision. While the reconsideration takes place, the license will only be suspended for ghee production. The court suggested that permanent banning would require license cancellation, and instructed the dairy to pay a fine of ₹2 lakh to the licensing authority for technical reasons.
**News Article:**
**Madras High Court Revokes Suspension of Dairy Accused of Adulterating Ghee for Tirupati Laddus**
**CHENNAI, May 16, 2025** – The Madras High Court today overturned the suspension of A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited’s FSSAI license, a decision that has significant implications for the supply chain of ingredients used in the famous Tirupati laddu prasadam. The Dindigul-based dairy company was accused of supplying ghee containing foreign fat, instead of pure milk fat, to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the trust that manages the Tirupati temple.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, presiding over the case, ruled against the suspension order issued by the central licensing authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. The court cited procedural irregularities in the initial suspension, which was enacted on February 14, 2025.
The judge has remanded the matter back to the licensing authority for reconsideration, specifically instructing them to evaluate whether the suspension should apply solely to ghee production or extend to all of the dairy’s products. Until the licensing authority reconsiders the matter, the license remains suspended only for ghee manufacturing. The court also clarified that a blanket ban on the dairy would require a full license cancellation process, with appropriate due process.
In his ruling, Justice Lakshminarayanan observed that the suspension of a license can only be valid for a maximum of six weeks, not indefinitely. He also directed A.R. Dairy Food Private Limited to pay ₹2 lakh to the central licensing authority as a cost, acknowledging the technical grounds on which the petition was allowed.
A.R. Dairy Food, in its defense, claimed to source milk from approximately 13,000 suppliers daily and employs 400 individuals. The company argued that the sudden suspension of its license, affecting the production of all milk products, had a devastating impact on its workforce and suppliers. They also argued that the FSSAI had initially issued an improvement notice, but abandoned it, choosing suspension over public safety concerns.
The order was reserved in Madurai on April 2, 2025, and delivered today in Chennai. The case highlights the importance of adhering to proper procedures when enforcing food safety regulations, especially when the supply chain involves a product as culturally significant as the Tirupati laddu. The licensing authority now has four weeks to reconsider the matter and issue fresh proceedings, raising questions about the future of the ghee supply and the temple’s iconic sweet.
First Piper 