Why Meat Sale Is Banned In Mumbai On September 4 And 7?

Mumbai's largest slaughterhouse, the Deonar abattoir, will be closed for two days in September following an order from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The abattoir will remain shut on September 4 and 7 to observe the Jain community's 'Paryushan Parv', as directed by Mumbai's civic commissioner and administrator, Bhushan Gagrani.

"After reviewing the matter, I have decided that BMC will announce a one-day closure for slaughter during Paryushan Parv, specifically on Bhadarva Sud Ekam, which falls on September 4 this year. Additionally, Deonar Abattoir will be closed on Ganesh Chaturthi, as per a 2015 decision. Since Ganesh Chaturthi coincides with Paryushan Parv on September 7, the abattoir will be closed on that day as well," the order stated.

Gagrani also directed the concerned department to review the closure dates and ensure that the total number of closure days does not exceed 15 per year. This decision follows a directive from the Bombay High Court, which urged civic bodies in Maharashtra to consider a Jain public charitable trust's request for a temporary ban on animal slaughter and meat sales during 'Paryushan Parv'. The petition, filed by Sheth Motishaw Lalbaug Jain Charities, requested the BMC and the civic bodies of Pune, Mira Bhayandar, and Nashik to expedite their decisions on the trust's representation.

Reason for Seeking the Ban on Animal Slaughter
The trust called for a ban on animal slaughter and meat sales from August 31 to September 7, citing the Jain principle of 'ahimsa' (non-violence). It argued that allowing animal slaughter during Paryushan Parv would be against the core beliefs of Jainism. A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar found no barriers in directing the civic bodies to decide on the trust's representation promptly.