Mahavir Jayanti: HC rejects petition to shut slaughterhouses

The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected a petition filed by an association seeking implementation by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of a 2003 direction issued by the government to close slaughterhouses and the sale of meat and fish on Mahavir Jayanti.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice AK Menon rejected the petition filed by Rajasthan Sanskriti Sanrakshan Sanstha.

On Wednesday, the court had asked Assistant Government Pleader Aparna Vhatkar to place on record under what provision of law or rules the state had issued the direction. On Friday, since the government could not place on record any relevant laws or rules, the court held that the direction was not enforceable.

Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated on April 9. The petition claimed that even when a circular had been issued by the authorities, BMC was not enforcing it, and was thus hurting the religious sentiments of the Jain community.

While dismissing the petition, the court also considered an order passed by another bench of the High Court staying a circular issued by the corporation directing the closure of slaughterhouses and sale of meat during Paryushan.