HC seeks material to substantiate claims that competent authority not considering reopening meat shops

The court had then held that permission to reopen the meat shops cannot be granted while these were non-compliant of the laws.  It had granted the aggrieved meat vendors and sellers the liberty to approach the competent authority or committee by showing that they had ensured compliance of all laws and regulations.

The bench had noted that “if any such application is made by any shopowner or vendor, it shall be dealt with expeditiously without booking delay”.

Advocate Ejaz Qureshi on Thursday told the bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee that the competent authorities are neither entertaining the applications moved by the aggrieved meat shop units and nor are these committees “traceable”.

The bench, however, observed that nothing has been presented on the court’s record to indicate that the aggrieved meat shopowners and vendors have approached any of the competent authorities.

Seeking that the “the categorical material” in this regard be brought on the court’s record to substantiate their claims by way of a supplementary affidavit, the HC adjourned the matter to September 8.