The Gujarat High Court slammed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Thursday for seizing food stalls serving non-vegetarian items in the city and questioned how the civic body could prevent individuals from eating what they want.
The High Court was hearing a case from a number of petitioners whose carts had just been seized by the Corporation. Among the vendors were those selling non-vegetarian meals, eggs, and vegetables.
During the hearing, the Court asked the respondent’s counsel whether the State will control what one eats outside their home.
“What seems to be the problem?” If you dislike non-vegetarian foods, you will be on the watch! How will you decide what I should eat outside? It’s always for the benefit of the respondents! How can you keep people from eating whatever they want? Suddenly because someone in authority thinks this is what they want to do? Biren Vaishnav, the Chief Justice, questioned.
“You will pick what I should eat outside the house tomorrow?” he added.
The vendors’ counsel told the Court that the problem began in Rajkot, where a council was outraged that non-veg food was being sold on the streets. “The entire incident begins in Rajkot, and then moves on to other Municipal Corporations,” he explained.
The petitioners also claimed that the seizure was carried out under the pretext of inadequate sanitary practises, but there was no order or resolution to back it up.