Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 13: After a petition was filed by a Bengaluru resident against the anti-cow slaughter Bill, the Karnataka high court (HC) on Tuesday issued notice to the state government asking it to file its objections in a PIL against the petition.

The notice was issued by the division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum based on the petition filed by Mohammed Arif Jameel. In his petition, Jameel argued that the ordinance went against the fundamental rights of a citizen under Articles 14, 19 (1) (G) as well as Article 21 of the Constitution.

Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi, who represented the state via video conference, sought time from the bench and assured the court that the government was in the process of forming the rules.

Backing his petition, Jameel also submitted the case of Shiek Zahid Mukthar vs State of Maharashtra where the Bombay High Court had held that depriving people of the right to choose food was unconstitutional.

Therefore, the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, 2021, violated the fundamental rights of many citizens to consume food of their choice.

The next hearing of the case is on January 18.