Nagpur: Maharashtra govt on Friday informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court that it is prepared to withdraw Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) sealing action against Wardha’s historic Goras Bhandar, which was shut down last month over alleged unhygienic conditions.During a hearing before division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode, the state submitted that annual inspections of Goras Bhandar were conducted since 2020 and no irregularities were reported. The matter will next be heard on July 7.The court was hearing a petition filed by Wardha Tehsil Cow Milk Producers’ Cooperative Society through senior counsel Firdos Mirza, challenging the FDA’s May 31 action. Acting on directions issued by FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, officials inspected the premises, sealed the institution and banned milk collection, sale and manufacture of dairy products until further orders.On Thursday, the bench had directed the govt to place on record details of inspections conducted over the past nearly 65 years and action taken, if any. In response, the state submitted inspection records from 2020 onward before the court.During Friday’s proceedings, the govt requested the court to set aside the sealing order. The bench, however, declined the request and orally observed that the state itself should either withdraw the order and issue an improvement notice to the institution or await the court’s final adjudication.Following the court’s observations, the govt indicated that it was willing to revoke the sealing action and issue a corrective notice instead.The hearing also focused on the alleged use of industrial ice in preparing buttermilk at Goras Bhandar. Mirza admitted before the court that industrial ice was used during the preparation process.According to the petition, Goras Bhandar was founded in 1931 through the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Jamnalal Bajaj. Since 1954, the institution has been collecting and distributing nearly 9,000 litres of milk daily and supports around 800 families across 15 villages in Wardha district.The FDA has maintained that unhygienic conditions were detected during the inspection and defended its action under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The cooperative society, however, argued that the institution was sealed without prior notice or an opportunity to respond.Under legall scrutiny• Govt told the high court it is prepared to withdraw FDA action against Goras Bhandar• The institution was sealed on May 31 over alleged unhygienic conditions• Govt records showed annual inspections since 2020 found no irregularities• HC suggested state either revoke the order and issue improvement notice or await final adjudication• Petitioners admitted industrial ice was used in buttermilk preparation• Goras Bhandar was founded in 1931 through efforts of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Jamnalal Bajaj• The institution supports around 800 families in Wardha district• Next hearing is scheduled for July 7