Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has sharply criticised municipal orders across India, including one by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), to close slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15, Independence Day.
In a post on X, Owaisi called the bans “callous and unconstitutional,” questioning why meat consumption should be linked to the celebration of Independence Day. “Ninety-nine percent of Telangana’s population eats meat. These meat bans violate people’s right to liberty, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition and religion,” he said, urging civic bodies to reverse the decision. He also warned that such directives harm the livelihoods of those in the meat trade and undermine the country’s cultural diversity.
The GHMC order has not only drawn political criticism but also come under legal scrutiny. The Telangana High Court has asked the civic body to explain the legal basis for directing beef shops and slaughterhouses to close on both Independence Day and Janmashtami. Justice B Vijaysen Reddy issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by law student Vadla Srikanth, represented by advocate Vijay Gopal.
The petition argued that the GHMC Commissioner relied on Section 533(b) of the GHMC Act, which, according to the petitioner, does not empower the Commissioner to close lawful businesses without proper justification. It claimed the move was arbitrary and violated constitutional rights, including Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 19(1)(g) (right to practice any profession).
