A section of advocates practising in the Madras High Court Bench here has set up a non-vegetarian food stall on their own on the court campus and began sales on Monday.
Thirty-five packets of egg biriyani, costing Rs.35 each, were sold.
Advocate P. Rathinam, who had initiated the idea of setting up the stall, inaugurated the sales near the lawyer’s canteen and M. Thirunavukarasu, former president of Madurai Bench High Court Advocates Association (MBHAA), purchased the first packet.
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Talking to journalists, Mr. Rathinam said that his team of lawyers were forced to open the stall on their own since repeated representations made by them to the High Court in the last few years to allow sale of non-vegetarian food in court canteens had fallen in deaf ears.
“Eating non-vegetarian food is not a crime. When such is the case, I don’t understand why canteens on the High Court campus should be prevented from selling non-vegetarian food. Such insulation would send a wrong signal in favour of those wanting a ban on beef,” he said.
He said that his team would soon begin selling chicken, mutton as well as beef biriyani.
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Concurring with him, lawyer S. Vanchinathan said that the advocate community had the responsibility of organising such novel protests to oppose forces working against beef-eating.
A former office-bearer of MBHAA, seeking anonymity, claimed that sale of non-vegetarian food in the building housing the lawyers’ chambers might pave way for entry of liquor and other nuisance into the court campus.
‘Absurd claims’
Mr. Rathinam retorted: “It is absurd to make such claims. I don’t see any relation between sale of non-vegetarian food and liquor. We respect the right and choice of vegetarians. We want the choice and right of non-vegetarians also to be respected.”
“We respect the right and choice of vegetarians. We want the choice and right of non-vegetarians also to be respected.”