[BREAKING] Gujarat High Court dismisses plea against slaughterhouse closure during Jain festival, says not violative of fundamental rights

The Gujarat High Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the closure of a slaughterhouse in Ahmedabad during the Jain festival of Paryushan Parv [Kul Hind Jamait-Al Quresh Action Committe Gujarat v. AMC]..Single-judge Justice Sandeep N Bhatt said that order of closure was only for two days and the same was a reasonable restriction, and not violative of fundamental rights.The plea filed by Kul Hind Jamait-Al Quresh Action Committee challenged the closure of the only slaughterhouse in the city.The single-judge stated that the resolution by the municipal corporation could not be considered violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution..The petitioner, while arguing the case, pointed out that the Gujarat High Court had in December 2021 reminded the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) not to try and control the food habits of people. The High Court had on December 9, 2021, come down heavily on the AMC for seizing food stalls selling non-vegetarian food in the city."How can you stop people from eating what they want? Suddenly because somebody in power thinks that this is what they want to do?," the Bench had exclaimed then.However, Justice Bhatt refused to accept this argument stating that an oral remark would not help the petitioner's case..Subsequently, the petitioner brought to the single judge's notice a recent decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court where an order of the State authorities for the closure meat shops and slaughterhouses in Haryana’s Ambala district for nine days owing to the Jain festival of Paryushana was stayed..However, the case was found "meritless" by the Gujarat High Court and therefore, dismissed. .On the previous occasion, Justice Bhatt had orally asked the party to refrain from consuming meat for one or two days."Why are you running last moment? We will not entertain this...no. Every season, whenever there is a ban, you people are rushing to the court. You can restrain yourself one day or two day from eating," the single-judge had orally remarked..[Read Order]