Mehta raises the question in the Supreme Court
New Delhi – “There cannot be any objection to ‘Halal’ meat, but I was shocked to see the domination created by some people in the name of ‘Halal’. These people want ‘Halal’ certified cement, iron bars, and water bottles. ‘Halal’ certifying institutions have earned millions of rupees through such certification processes. How can the wheat flour, chickpea flour etc. be ‘Halal’ certified ?” questioned Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court. He raised these questions during the hearing of petitions filed to challenge the UP Government’s ban on ‘Halal’ certified products. He appealed to the Supreme Court to note that ‘Halal’ certified products are expensive, and others have to buy such products owing to the demand of only a few people in this country.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he was surprised to find products other than meat sold as ‘Halal’ certified. The next hearing of the case will be held on 24th March.
1. Advocate M R Shamshad, representing the petitioners, replied to Tushar Mehta’s point that the Union Government’s policy elaborately defines ‘Halal’ and That it is not associated only with meat. The policy says it is a matter of lifestyle.
2. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that why should people who do not believe in or demand Halal certification pay more for ‘Halal’ certified products?
3. Advocate Shamshad then said that using ‘Halal’ certified products is not compulsory but a matter of choice.
What is the matter?
The Food Safety and Drugs Administration of BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh has imposed a ban on production, sale, storage and distribution of ‘Halal’ certified products. The Government, taking note of a complaint filed by a representative of BJP Youth Forum accusing ‘Halal’ certifying organisations of issuing fake certificates to increase the sale of ‘Halal’ products, asserted that the decision to ban ‘Halal’ products was appropriate. It may also be noted that the ban applies only to the sale, production and storage of such products in Uttar Pradesh and not to the export of such products.
Organisations like the Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind’s ‘Halal’ unit and ‘Halal Shariat Islamic Law Board’ issue ‘Halal’ certificates to products encouraging Muslims to use such products. These organisations approved by the Government Certification Board have criticised the UP Government’s decision. These organisations have, therefore, challenged the Government’s decision to ban in the Supreme Court demanding legal intervention.
Editorial PerspectiveHalal-certified products have been banned in Uttar Pradesh. When are they going to be banned in the whole country ? |