Don't eat meat for few days: Gujarat HC advises petitioners who challenged closure of Ahmedabad's abattoir

Responding to a petition over closure of sole slaughterhouse in Ahmedabad due to festivals, the Gujarat High Court has advised the petitioners to not eat meat for some days.

A group of petitioners has moved the Gujarat high court against the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) decision to close Ahmedabad's only slaughterhouse from August 24 to August 31 and again between September 5 and 9 due to festivals.

While hearing the petition, Justice Sandeep Bhatt said: "You can restrain yourself for one or two days from eating..."


The petitioner has argued that the Municipal Corporation's order "restrains" people's right to food. "It is not about restraining ourselves, but it is about fundamental rights. We can't imagine our country restraining fundamental rights. Earlier too, slaughterhouses have been closed, so this process can be stopped for the future," the petitioner argued.

The closure of slaughterhouse due to festivals has been a big issue since 2008 when the Supreme Court upheld the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's decision to close the abattoir during Paryushan, the holy period of Jain community.

Last year, Gujarat High Court had asked the state government whether it had been trying to remove non-vegetarian food handcarts from the streets, after a petition alleged such a drive was going on. The government had denied the allegation.