Plea before Punjab and Haryana HC challenges ban on sale of meat in Amritsar walled city

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Punjab government to respond to a petition challenging the prohibition on sale of meat, fish and meat products in the Walled City of Amritsar.A Division Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Deepak Manchanda on May 29 issued notice to the State and posted the matter for further consideration on June 22."In the meantime, reply if any, be filed," the Court said in the order..The order was passed on a plea by Kuldeep Fish Company, a wholesaler of fish and raw meat, which moved the Court challenging the notification declaring the Walled city of Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo as 'Holi Cities'.The decision has led to prohibition on sale and use of meat and meat products within the notified areas. The petitioner told the Court that such prohibitions have no statutory backing.It was argued that the State has employed executive power to enforce religious morality despite the Constitution not recognising any religion-based territorial classification."The respondents have neither defined "Holy City" nor "Walled City", including the jurisdiction and territory to which the same would apply nor disclosed the statutory backing under which the notifications dated 15.12.2025 have been issued," the plea said.The petitioner also argued that the State has not framed any rehabilitation policy for those dependent on the trade. A large number of persons belonging to other communities, and tourists are being deprived of their lawful choice because of the prohibition, it was submitted."Complete prohibition within the walled city of Amritsar, while permitting the very same activities in other parts of the same city, is wholly irrational, discriminatory, and devoid of any intelligible differentia," the plea added..The petitioner also pointed out that authorities last month forcibly closed and sealed the business establishment of the petitioner and other traders in Amritsar..Senior Advocate Vikas Chatrath and advocate Preet Agroa represented the petitioner.Additional Advocate General Jastej Singh appeared for the State