On April 17, 2023, Dr. Sunita Golhait, the Joint Director of Health Services in Maharashtra, ordered disciplinary action against district civil surgeons, additional civil surgeons, and medical superintendents for neglecting their duties in monitoring hospital diet services. This decision follows the identification of multiple administrative lapses, including the failure to establish monitoring committees and conduct necessary food quality inspections. The action is based on Rule 8 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, which addresses negligence and dereliction of duty. The health department oversees food services for thousands of patients across 19 district hospitals, 368 rural hospitals, and other facilities. Despite contracts awarded to private contractors for diet services, officials found that many monitoring committees were either not formed or did not function properly. Dr. Golhait emphasized that food services continued without laboratory reports, and contractor payments were made without appropriate verification. This move follows numerous communications from the health commissionerate and the health minister’s office addressing these irregularities.