New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea seeking a ban on the ‘Halal’ form of slaughtering of animals. The court observed that the petition was “mischievous in character”.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that court cannot interfere with the food habits of people.

“Court cannot determine who can be a vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Those who want to eat Halal meat can eat Halal meat. Those who want to eat Jhatka meat can eat Jhatka meat,” the bench which also comprised justice Dinesh Maheshwari said.

The Akhand Bharat Morcha organisation had filed a petition saying that  ‘Halal’ slaughter of animals is “extremely painful” and “inhuman”.

It was also pointed out that Jhatka does not cause suffering for animals since it dies instantaneously in such method of slaughter while in Halal, the animal dies a painful death.

Halal is practiced by Muslims, Jhatka method is excercised by Hindus.

The organisation had challenged Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The said section provides that killing of animal in a manner required by the religion of any community will not be an offence under the act. Various forms of killing of animals, like Halal in which jugular vein of the animal is severed leading to blood of animal draining out leading to death of animal and Jhatka where animal is killed instantaneously by a single strike of sword to sever the head, are protected by Section 28.

The bench, however, declined to entertain the plea.

“Your petition is mischievous in character,” the top court said.