The judges directed the police not to take coercive action against possession of beef
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Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday refused to stay the state government decision to ban the possession and import of meat of cow in Maharashtra. The court, however, also directed the state not to take any “coercive action” in the next three months or till the petition is disposed of, against those found in possession of beef that they had before the ban came into effect and did not get a chance to dispose it off. The judges directed the police not to take coercive action against those found in possession of beef. If necessary, an FIR could be filed, but no further action should be taken.
The division bench of Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice Sonak observed that the police should not invade the privacy of citizens. “The state shall not invade the privacy of citizens to find out, if they are in possession of beef (cow and its progeny meat) or other forms of beef,” said judges. The bench observed that in support of the ban on possession and import three citations were given by the state and the intervenors that spoke about ban on trade of ivory in India and eggs in three religious towns.
( Source : dc )
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