Quite disappointing
Uttar Pradesh halal ban: Halal India, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra granted interim protection by SC
The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from any coercive action to the office-bearers of Halal India Limited and Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra over the Uttar Pradesh ban on halal-certified products.
On January 5, the SC, while issuing notice to the state on petitions filed by the two bodies — challenging the Constitutional validity of the notification “prohibiting the manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution of food products with halal certification within the State of Uttar Pradesh, except for items produced for export”— had refused to grant them interim protection from arrest.
However, on January 25, the court granted protection to Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Halal Trust president Mahmood Madani, who also approached the SC challenging the ban.
On Monday, this was pointed out to a bench of Justice B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, which then agreed to extend the relief to Halal India Limited and Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra too.
Halal India Pvt Ltd, which claims to be an “internationally recognised halal certification provider”, has called the notification “an attack on the followers of Islam religion”.
It argued that the notification issued by the Office of the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh, on November 18, 2023, has pan-India ramifications and would impact inter-state commerce.
It contended that a similar position has not been taken for practices of other religions or denominations, and submitted that it will have a significant impact on public health, and on religious practices, affecting the freedom of religion.
Express News Service – 2024-02-13 01:47