Meat ban: Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against Bombay High Court order

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the Bombay High Court's order staying a ban on meat sales in Mumbai during the Jain festival of Paryushan, and said the choice of whether to eat meat or not should be left to the people to decide.

"These are not issues which can be forced down through one's throat," a bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and Kurian Joseph aid. The bench was hearing a plea by a Maharashtrabased Jain body, Shree Tapagachiya Atma Kamal Labhdisuriswarji Gyanmandir Trust, to vacate the HC order. It said the trust could approach the HC against the interim order. Manish Singhvi, who appeared for the trust, argued such limited bans had been imposed historically during festivals and other holy periods in the country.