Kalyan-Dombivli Bans Meat Sales on Independence Day, Sparks Controversy

Meat Shops Ordered to Close

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra's Thane district has mandated that all slaughterhouses and meat vendors within its jurisdiction remain closed on Independence Day. This decision has been met with criticism from opposition parties, who have labeled it as an instance of 'food policing'.

According to a notice issued by Deputy Commissioner Kanchan Gaikwad, the closure will be enforced from midnight on August 14 until midnight on August 15. The order applies to licensed butchers dealing with goats, sheep, chickens, and larger animals.

Violators of this directive may face penalties under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.

Gaikwad stated that this measure was taken to uphold public order and respect significant national events, as reported by a news agency.

The municipal corporation is currently under administrative control, with the municipal commissioner acting as the state government's representative.

Jitendra Awhad, an MLA from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of creating a divide between vegetarians and non-vegetarians after exhausting other social issues. The Mahayuti alliance includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, a faction of Shiv Sena led by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and another faction of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar.

In contrast, Sharad Pawar's faction of the NCP, along with the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena and the Congress, forms the opposition coalition known as Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Awhad further questioned whether the state government would dictate when citizens can consume non-vegetarian food. He expressed his intention to host a mutton gathering on Independence Day, asserting that the ban infringes on personal freedoms.

Another NCP member, MP Suresh Mhatre, condemned the ban as 'unacceptable', emphasizing that food choices are deeply rooted in cultural practices, especially within the coastal Agri-Koli community. He argued that such restrictions should not be imposed.

Aaditya Thackeray, a leader from Uddhav Sena, called for the suspension of the municipal commissioner, criticizing the administration for prioritizing food bans over addressing infrastructure issues like collapsing bridges and poor road conditions.

Conversely, Shiv Sena MLA Vishwanath Bhoir claimed there was no public outcry against the ban, suggesting that a temporary shift to vegetarianism poses no harm.

Legal Challenge in Telangana

A petition has been filed in the Telangana High Court challenging a recent directive from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation that mandates the closure of beef shops and slaughterhouses on Independence Day and Janmashtami, as reported by a legal news outlet.

Janmashtami, a significant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, will be observed on August 16.

The petition, submitted by law student Vadla Srikanth, was brought before Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, who instructed the municipal corporation to justify its decision.

The case is scheduled for further hearings on Wednesday.

The petition argues that the municipal corporation's order lacks a valid basis and statutory authority, describing it as an arbitrary exercise of power without justification.

It emphasizes that the livelihoods of traders should not be jeopardized and that they deserve clarity on the reasons for the closure on August 15 and 16.

Labeling the order as 'arbitrary' and 'illegal', the petition asserts that it violates Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and the right to engage in any profession or business.