Uttarakhand HC: Why ban on abattoirs in Haridwar?

Nainital, Juy 17

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Questioning the constitutionality of a ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar district, the Uttarakhand High Court has said a civilisation is judged by the way it treats its minorities.

Hearing a plea by residents of Manglaur challenging the ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar district, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma said: “Democracy means the protection of minorities. A civilisation is judged only by the way it treats its minorities and a ban like Haridwar’s questions the extent to which the state can determine a citizen’s options.”

The petition said the prohibition went against the right to privacy, right to life and right to freely practice religion and discriminated against Muslims in Haridwar where towns like Manglaur had a substantial Muslim population.

Cancelling the NOCs, the state had in March this year declared all areas in Haridwar “free from slaughterhouses.” — PTI