Notice to government over non-veg ban in Palitana
Gujarat High Court issued notice to Gujarat state government on banning of sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food in the Jain town Palitana.
Justice KM Thaker of Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Gujarat state government and Bhavnagar district authorities on a circular issued by the chief officer of Palitana municipality banning sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food in the town.
The chief officer of Palitana in Bhavnagar district issued circulars in April and June threatening action against those selling and serving non-vegetarian food. The decision was taken after two Jain monks went on a fast unto death. Palitana is a prominent pilgrimage centre for the Jain community.
“We have stated before the high court that the chief officer has no power and the circulars are unreasonable and arbitrary in the eyes of law. Over 50% of the town’s population eats non-vegetarian food,” said Mukul Sinha, counsel for the petitoner and local businessman Harun Laddhar.
Terming the decision a political gimmick, Sinha said several restaurant owners had been earning a livelihood in the town for the past seven decades without causing any problem to citizens. The petition will come up for hearing on July 16.