Food businesses in Jaipur face closure amid licence crackdown

Jaipur: Hundreds of food establishments in the city are facing potential closure as municipal authorities have launched a stringent crackdown on businesses operating without valid trader's licenses. The move comes following a Rajasthan High Court directive requiring all food businesses to obtain proper licensing, requiring the two municipal corporations to submit a report on this by June 30.

The Jaipur Municipal Corporations (JMC) - Heritage and Greater, have identified over 500 establishments, including cafes, restaurants, hotels and street food vendors, operating without the mandatory trader's licence. Notices have been issued giving businesses a seven-day window to comply or face closure.

The enforcement has created widespread concern among business owners, with nearly 80% of Jaipur's food establishments currently holding only FSSAI food licenses. Many proprietors claim they were never informed about the requirement for a trader's license until now.

"This sudden notice has come as a shock," says Yuvraj Hasija, who opened Hasija Kitchen in Raja Park just five months ago. "When I started, authorities only asked for a food licence. Now my landlord is asking me to vacate due to the documentation requirements."

Even well-established businesses aren't exempt from the crackdown. Establishments like Marky Momos, operating for 20 years, and the 30-year-old Radhey Shyam Bhatia Paneer Wale have received notices.

Chief Medical Health Officer of JMC Greater, Rashmi Kakariya, said that businesses must either have a commercial lease or be located on designated commercial roads according to the city's master plan. "We're trying to find a solution but if that doesn't work out, we will have to seal non-compliant businesses," she said.

Attempts to reach Sonia Agrawal, Chief Health Officer of JMC-H, were unsuccessful as she failed to respond to phone calls.

The primary challenge for business owners lies in obtaining the required documentation, including commercial lease deeds or legal occupancy certificates, which many currently lack.

The situation has created uncertainty for both business owners and their employees, potentially affecting thousands of livelihoods across the city. As the June 30 deadline approaches, the future remains uncertain for many of Jaipur's food establishments, with both municipal corporations and business owners scrambling to find a workable solution.