‘Even cement, flour need Halal certification?’: UP govt questions in Supreme Court

“So far as Halal meat etc. is concerned, nobody can have any objection… even cement used is to be halal-certified. Sariyas (iron bars) used have to be halal-certified…Water bottles are required to be halal-certified…,” the SG said. “Even atta (wheat flour), besan (chickpea flour) has to be halal-certified…how can besan be halal or non-halal?,” the SG said, adding that agencies have made “few lakh crores” with such certification.

Senior Advocate M R Shamshad appearing for the petitioners, said halal is defined elaborately in the Centre’s policy is not only about non-vegetarian food.

Mehta also submitted that Halal certification is driving up prices and said the court might have to consider the question why those who do not subscribe to halal should be forced to consume the higher priced items.

The petitioners however said consumption of halal-certified products is a matter of choice.

On January 5, the SC, issued notice to the state on petitions filed by the Halal India Pvt Limited and Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra, challenging the Constitutional validity of the notification issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration, UP, “prohibiting the manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution of food products with halal certification within the state…”.