‘Unconstitutional’: Petition In High Court Seeks Ban On Non-Veg Food Ads!

Mumbai: Petitions are filed in courts at the drop of a hat these days. Some of them are serious, some not so serious and many are quite frivolous.

Recently, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in Bombay High Court seeking a ban on advertisements of meat and meat products in print and electronic media.

The plea, filed by Jain religious charitable trusts and a Mumbai resident practising Jainism, does not, however, ask for a ban on sale or consumption of non-vegetarian food.

According to the petition, families of Jain community members “including their children and other vegetarian people are forced to watch the advertisements without their desire, wishes or consent, thereby infringing the right to live life peacefully, tampering upon the minds of children, teenagers and vegetarian adults by infringing upon their privacy and compelling them to watch/read about non-vegetarian foods against their own wishes.”

The petition goes on to state, “Advertisement of non-vegetarian foods is gravely unconstitutional as it violates Article 21 which provides the rights to life which includes right to protect a person’s tradition, culture, heritage, and all that gives meaning to a man’s life.”

“Advertisements which promote non-vegetarian foods hurts the feelings and emotions of the vegetarians especially when it reaches into the very houses of peoples through television channels, newspapers, social media and are likely to impact their mental health condition largely,” the PIL added.

Mentioning Article 51A (g) of the Constitution, which elaborates on citizens having compassion towards living creatures as one of fundamental duties, the petition seeks reliefs from Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the State, Press Council of India, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection Department and Advertisement Standards Council of India.

The petition had made some companies like Licious, Freshtohome Foods and Meatigo as respondents.

Pointing out that a government ban on advertising alcohol and cigarettes is already in place, the petition states that non-vegetarian foods are not healthy, causes damage to environment and instigates youngsters to consume them.

The petitioners have sought directions to concerned authorities to frame and issue guidelines to restrict and ban advertisement of non-vegetarian foods across media.