Meat ban: SC refuses to entertain plea against Bombay HC order

Two-judge bench, however, allows petitioner, a trust of minoroty Jains, to approach Bombay HC with its grievances

Holding that nothing should be thrust on a particular class, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea against a Bombay High Court order staying the decision to ban sale of meat in Mumbai during Jain festival.

"There has to be the spirit of tolerance and anything should not be thrust on a particular class," the court said while noting that the High Court court order seems to be elaborate and that compassion for animals need not be observed only on festivals.

A bench comprising judges T S Thakur and Kurian Joseph, however, allowed petitioner Shree Tapagachiya Atma Kamal Labhdisuriswarji Gyanmandir Trust, a trust of minority Jains, to approach the Bombay High Court with its grievances.

"We make it clear that we have not made any observations on the merits of the case. It would be open for the petitioner to approach the high court which would decide the plea within a period of six months. Petition is dismissed as withdrawn," the bench said.

At the outset, the court expressed its reluctance to stay the order of the high court, saying, "Half-a-day has already gone," and the high court's decision seems to be a very elaborate one.

"There has to be the spirit of tolerance and anything should not be thrust on a particular class," it said.

One of the judges recited a couplet from a poem of Kabir and said that even good teaching cannot be forced upon others and people reap what they sow.

The remark came when the counsel for the petitioner said that non-violence and compassion towards animals have been a part of good teachings and observing two days ban on sale of meat is not going to harm anybody.

"Compassion towards animals does not have to be observed on festival days only," the court said.