I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-beef-ban-flouts-right-to-life-PIL/articleshow/46520599.cms
Maharashtra beef ban flouts right to life: PIL Rosy Sequeira,TNN | Mar 11, 2015, 12.58 AM IST MUMBAI: The ban on beef infringes on a citizen's fundamental rights, says a PIL filed on Tuesday in the Bombay high court, asserting that the right to eat the meat of one's choice is integral to it. ***In his public interest litigation, activist Ketan Tirodkar called the recent changes in the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995, which provides for punishment for possessing or selling beef, "atrocious". Consumption and sale of beef should not be criminalized. "Right to eat should not be affected," he added.*** [Emphasis added.] President Pranab Mukherjee last month gave his assent to the amendments in the Act. The slaughter of cows was already banned in the state; now bulls and bullocks have been added to the list. Anyone selling beef or found in possession of it can be jailed for up to five years and fined Rs 10,000. READ ALSO: HC: Don't make beef ban a religious issue Lawyers consume beef on HC campus to protest Maharashtra ban Why Kerala has no beef with beef Tirodkar's petition says the ban is an infringement on Article 21 (right to life), which he claims includes "the right to eat meat of one's choice". "The question is whether the State can impose such an infringement on the fundamental right by virtue of an enactment," he asked. The activist has urged the court to strike down the portion of the law which makes it an offence to possess or sell beef. ***He said slaughter can be banned in the state, but there should be no restriction on beef being brought in from neighbouring states like Goa or from abroad for consumption. "Judicial activism is absolutely necessary to strike down such a portion of an enactment that surpasses the parameters laid down by Article 21 of the Constitution of India," he said. The matter will come up for hearing in due course.*** [Emphasis added.] II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Hundreds-of-abattoir-workers-protest-in-Mumbai/articleshow/46520621.cms Hundreds of abattoir workers protest in Mumbai Mohammed Wajihuddin,TNN | Mar 11, 2015, 12.58 AM IST MUMBAI: Tuesday saw a couple of protests in the city against the BJP-Sena government's alleged anti-minority policies. Opposition legislators like Naseem Khan, Amin Patel, Waris Pathan and Jitendra Awhad burnt a copy of the March 2 resolution quashing 5% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education, and daily wagers at Deonar abattoir and workers of beef shops demanded lifting of the ban on beef trade. ***Hundreds gathered at Azad Maidan and raised slogans against the BJP-Shiv Sena government over enforcement of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995. Since the Act extends the ban on slaughter of cows to bulls and bullock, work at the state-run Deonar abattoir has drastically reduced, rendering thousands jobless*** [emphasis added]. "We have inherited this job from our forefathers and we don't know any other skill. The government has struck at our livelihood," said Deepak Bhalerao, leader of Sarva Shramik Sangh, an organization of workers at the Deonar abattoir. "Our families are starving. Where will we get food from? Did the Fadnavis government think about its impact before it brought the new law?" said Shakil Qureishi, another leader. Arif Qureishi, a beef merchant at Crawford market, said around 80 workers at beef shops at Crawford Market have been jobless since March 3. Questioning if this is how Narendra Modi's slogan 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' was being implemented, activists threatened hunger strike. "Instead of starving at home, we will die during hunger strike if the law is not amended. ***Cow slaughter has been banned and nobody opposes it but by adding bulls and bullock to the list, the government has hit the poor*** [emphasis added]," said activist Firoz Mithiborewala. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
