Punjab and Haryana High Court stays Haryana govt's ban on business of meat, meat products near Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the notification dated December 21, 2022, issued by the state government of Haryana which imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of meat and meat products in the area around Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula.

The single judge bench of Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj passed the order in a plea moved by the meat sellers who claimed that their rights had been violated by the said notification.

In December last year, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, Urban Local Bodies Department declared the demarcated area near Mata Mansa Devi temple as a " holy area". Accordingly, slaughtering, sale and purchase of meat and meat products had also been banned in the vicinity.

The counsel for the petitioners argued before the high court that the impugned notification did not refer to any statutory provision in exercise whereof such a declaration had been issued.

In the absence of invocation of any such substantive power, enforcement of restraint against the petitioners from carrying on their business/occupation is violative of the rights granted to them, the petitioners' counsel contended.

He further contended that he petitioners were duly issued their licences by the competent Authority to deal in the sale and purchase of meat and meat products in the said area.

Taking note of the submissions made, court issued notice to the state government and sought its response. While posing the matter to be next heard on August 7, 2023, court stayed the impugned notification.

Case Title: Anahita Handa and Others v State of Haryana and Others