26 Jul. 24: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court, challenging the Varanasi Municipal Corporation’s directive to close all meat and poultry shops along the Kanwar Yatra route during the Hindu month of Saawan. The petition, filed by Dr. Suhail Chaudhary, President of the National Loktantrik Party, argues that the order is arbitrary and infringes on the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The petitioner contends that the directive disproportionately affects the livelihoods of those running these shops and lacks a reasonable basis. The PIL seeks the court’s intervention to quash the municipal order and to issue guidelines that would balance religious sentiments with the rights of business owners.
The petition emphasizes the importance of ensuring that administrative orders do not infringe on the rights of citizens without a compelling justification. It calls for the court to scrutinize the rationale behind the municipal corporation’s decision and to establish a more equitable approach to managing such religious processions without unduly impacting businesses.
The PIL is set to be reviewed by the Allahabad High Court, which will determine whether the municipal order stands in violation of constitutional rights and whether alternative measures can be implemented to accommodate both religious practices and commercial activities.
