HC quashes BMC action against office coffee machines

The Bombay High Court today set aside the municipal corporation's action against two companies for "installing coffee vending machines without licence".

Coffee vending machines have become a common sight at offices these days. The issue in the present case was whether an organisation can have a vending machine, though only for
the benefit of its staff, without a licence to sell coffee or tea.

Two Powai-based companies, Northern Marine Managament and Basell Polyolefines,
had moved the court after the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai issued notices to them for "illegally selling coffee" from their offices when all they had were coffee vending machines.

But the civic body has cited the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, which requires a licence for running a tea or coffee shop. The MCGM also filed a complaint with the magistrate, who issued summons to the two companies.

Today, in the high court, advocate SG Gokhale, appearing for the two companies, argued that the machines were meant to supply coffee and tea to staff, and that there was no sale.

A division bench of justices Bilal Nazki and AR Joshi observed that even the notice issued by the MCGM did not mention that coffee was being sold inside the office. Therefore, the
court quashed the MCGM notices.