The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the Ambala administration’s decision in Haryana asking slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain shut between August 24 and September 1 owing to Paryushan Parv, a Jain festival.
The high court bench of justice Sudhir Mittal has acted on the plea of Rajpal Poultry Farm and others from the district, who had challenged the deputy commissioner, Ambala, order in this regard.
The plea argued private slaughterhouses/meat shops cannot be asked to close down during the period of Paryushan festival as it would affect the constitutional rights of the general public apart from violating the right of the petitioners to carry on their trade, business or vocation.
The high court while seeking a response from the Haryana government by August 29 stayed the order of the administration.
The administration had issued the order following communication from the director, urban local bodies, Haryana, on July 20, issued to all DCs and MC commissioners requesting them that all the slaughterhouses/meat shops remain closed from August 24 to September 1. The department had acted on a representation.
The plea in the HC argued that the communication from the director, urban local bodies, was a “request”, which has been construed as “direction” from the government by the district administration.
Source – hindustantimes
