“Won’t direct govt. to desist from serving non-veg food at meetings”

CJ says writ plea is an endeavour to divide society

Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul

The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday refused to direct the State government to desist from serving non-vegetarian food in government sponsored meetings and functions on the ground that such a direction would not be in the interest of society in general.

Declining to entertain a writ petition filed by E. Ramalakshmi, a follower of Saint Ramalinga Adigalar and proponent of ‘Jeevakarunyam’ (compassion towards all living beings), Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that in his view such a plea was nothing but “an endeavour to divide society.”

“So now cases would be filed insisting on how people should sit, stand and in which posture they should sleep and so on, is it,” the Chief Justice asked the petitioner’s counsel while presiding over the First Division Bench along with Justice S. Manikumar.

When the counsel said that the petitioner, being a tax payer, had the right to question killing of animals for food, the Chief Justice said: “I am told that 80 per cent of people in this State are non-vegetarians. Can they be allowed to file cases against vegetarianism?”

He also wondered what would happen if foreign dignitaries, attending government functions, preferred non-vegetarian food. “Should the government be directed to arrange private dining for them,” the Chief Justice questioned and gave an opportunity to the counsel to withdraw the case.

“You can withdraw the case and pursue the matter with the government. At least then, you may have some chance. Left to me, I would certainly dismiss the case with some harsh observations,” he said leading to withdrawal of the writ petition.

In her affidavit, the petitioner contended that the Tamil Development, Culture and Religious Department had accepted a plea made by her a couple of years ago to serve vegetarian food alone in government functions and also communicated its decision to her. However, the practice was not followed in letter and spirit by other government departments, the petitioner claimed and sought for a direction to the State to issue a circular asking all officials to defer from serving non-vegetarian food in government sponsored events.