Kanwar Yatra: Plea in Allahabad High Court challenges closure of meat shops in Varanasi

A petition was moved before the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday to challenge Varanasi Municipal Corporation's recent order to close meat shops situated along the Kanwar Yatra route during the month of Sawan. .The petition was moved by National Loktantrik Party which has sought urgent hearing in the matter."The above mentioned directives not only violates the Fundamental freedom to carry on any occupation, trade or business guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) but also breaches the Fundamental right to life with dignity and personal liberty as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution," the plea argued.As per the plea, the practice of Kanwariya in ‘Sawaan’ is an age-old practice during which the meat shops have always remained open. The authorities by passing such directives are trying to create an exclusion by identity, the plea argued."The authorities passed a directive without considering the fact that the said directive will impact the livelihood of the shopkeepers. The shops’ earnings are the means of livelihood for the shop-owners and closure of business on the ground of selling non-vegetarian items is unreasonable and violates their fundamental right to carry on their trade or business and also creates unlawful discrimination without sufficient cause as to why the meat shops were only chosen to be closed," the party said in the plea..The petition also said such decision promotes breach of the fundamental right of individual liberty and choice of food as it prevents the persons willing to consume meat or for whom consumption of meat and non-vegetarian food is medically prescribed.Many of these shops may be on rental and sudden closure of shops will affect them. As per the plea, these meat shops are mostly owned by people of Muslim faith..According to a PTI report, the municipal body said the decision was taken so that Kanwariyas do not face any issues during their yatra. The news report also said there are 96 meat shops on the Kanwar Yatra route.The challenge before the High Court comes days after the Supreme Court stayed an Uttar Pradesh Police directive asking shop owners and hawkers to display their names outside their premises during the Kanwar Yatra season."The food sellers (including dhaba owners, restaurants, foods and vegetable sellers, hawkers, etc) may be required to display the kind of food that they are serving to the Kanwariyas. But they must not be forced to display the name/identity of the owners and also the employees, deployed in their respective establishments," the Court said in its order..National Loktantrik Party will be represented by advocates Kuldeep Rai, Pritam Basu and Alok Mishra.