‘Privacy verdict will have bearing on beef ban cases in Maharashtra’

NEW DELHI: A day after nine Supreme Court judges, in a unanimous decision, ruled privacy was integral to one’s life, liberty and freedom protected by the Constitution, a top court bench on Friday said the verdict will have a bearing on the beef ban cases in Maharashtra.

“Of course, the judgment will have an impact ,” a bench of just ices AK Si kr ia nd As ho kB hush an said during the hearing of crossappeals against the Bombay high court’s May 2016 verdict that de criminal is ed possession of beef but up held ban on slaughtering of milch cattle in the state.

While some moved the apex courttooppose the ban, petitions were also filed against the order allowing people to keep beef at their homes. The Maharashtra government too has filed an appeal—one-and-half-year after the verdict — claiming that the authorities can search houses as there was no right to privacy.

The judges made their oral observation when senior advocate CU Singh —whose clients have questioned the ban — contended the petitions will now have to be heard in the wake of the verdict on privacy.

His colleague Indira Jaisingh said after the verdict, right to eat food of your choice is protected under the right to privacy and is a fundamental right.

The line of arguments by Singh and Jaising were aimed at the state and self-proclaimed cow protection groups who want the top court to revive the state rules making possession of beef illegal.

The counsel also raised a new point before the bench and demanded a relook at the SC’s 2004 judgment (Mirzapur) that imposed a complete ban on slaughter of bovine, even if unproductive. Jaising said the seven-judge bench decision should be re considered because it affected other rights of citizens and not just privacy. The bench agreed to look into her plea .