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 this certification processes. How can 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. The next hearing of the case will be on 24th March.
1. Advocate MR 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 questioned why should people who do not believe in or demand for Halal certification pay more for Halal certified products ?
What is the matter ?
The Food Safety and Drugs Administration of BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh 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.
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. They have, therefore, challenged the Government’s decision to ban in the Supreme Court demanding legal intervention.
Editorial Perspectives
Halal-certified products have been banned in UP. When are they going to be banned in the country ? |
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