Mangal Prabhat Lodha had also raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly.

While slaugherhouses are normally kept shut on Mahavir Jayanti, the Bombay high court had recently said that the state government has no statutory powers to direct local bodies to close slaughterhouses and meat shops on any particular day. (Representational Image)

Mumbai: Jain organisations in the city have appealed to keep slaughterhouses and meat shops shut on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, which falls today.

While slaugherhouses are normally kept shut on Mahavir Jayanti, the Bombay high court had recently said that the state government has no statutory powers to direct local bodies to close slaughterhouses and meat shops on any particular day.

Supporting the stand of jain organisations, Senior BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, “While all slaughterhouses in the country will be kept closed on Sunday, there is uncertainty in Maharashtra due to the recent HC directives. Hence we appeal to people to continue the tradition of keeping slaughterhouses closed on Mahavir Jayanti.”

Mr Lodha was talking in a press meet organised by several Jain organisations such as Jain International Organisation, Jain Shakti Foundation, Vardhaman Parivar, Ahimsa Sangh, etc. Mr Lodha said, “While the Maharashtra government has decided to move the Supreme Court against the HC ruling, it could not do so on Saturday as judgement was not uploaded (on the high court website). As Mahavir Jayanti falls on Sunday, we appeal the owners of slaughterhouses to keep their shops closed for one day.”

Mr Lodha had also raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly.