SC Refuses to Interfere with Bombay HC’s Decision to Lift Meat Ban

Supreme Court refuses to interfere with the Bombay HC’s decision to stay BMC’s meat ban on the occasion of Paryushan.

Skewered chicken being sold at an eatery in Mumbai (Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with the Bombay High Court’s decision to put a stay on the meat ban in Mumbai.

Supreme Court Justice TS Thakur stated that these are not issues which can be “forced down people’s throat”.

The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) had prohibited the slaughter and sale of meat in the city on the occasion of the Jain festival of Paryushan on September 10, 13, 17 and 18.

The Bombay Mutton Dealers’ Association moved the court against the ban, calling it unconstitutional and in the interest of a single community.

On September 10, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena workers sold meat on the streets of Dadar in Mumbai in protest of the ban.

The high court then reduced the four-day ban to two days by revoking the ban on September 13 and 18.

After continuous protests, the high court lifted the ban on September 17 as well, effectively rendering the ban useless.

(With agency inputs)