High Court Stays Haryana Govt Order Declaring Mansa Devi Temple Complex Area As ‘Holy’, Banning Sale Of Meat In Its Vicinity

The bench of Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj passed the following order on a plea moved by the affected meat sellers:

"In the meanwhile, operation of the impugned Notification dated 21.12.2022 (Annexure P-1) shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing."

It may be noted that on December 21, 2022, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, Urban Local Bodies Department issued the impugned notification declaring the demarcated area near Mata Mansa Devi temple as "Holy Area" and thereby prohibited the slaughtering, sale and purchase of meat and meat products within the said area.

Challenging the notification, the petitioner-meat sellers moved the Court arguing that the impugned order of the Government does not refer to any statutory provision in the exercise of which such a declaration has been issued.

It was further contended that in the absence of invocation of any such substantive power, enforcement of restraint against the petitioners from carrying on their business/occupation is violative of the rights granted to them.

It was also submitted that the petitioners have duly issued their licences in their favour by the competent Authority to deal in the sale and purchase of meat and meat products in the said area and that they undertake to carry out business as per law.

Against this backdrop, the Court issued a notice to the State and Municipal Corporation, Panchkula calling for their responses. Further, listing the matter for August 7, the Court stayed Government’s order until the next hearing date.

Senior Advocate Akshay Bhan along with Advocates Suryaveer S. Surjewala, Amandeep S. Talwar, and Abhijeet Rawaley appeared for the petitioners

Case title - Anahita Handa And Others V/S State Of Haryana And Others

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