UP Govt Imposes Statewide Ban on Halal Products After FIR Against Several Firms

The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday banned the sale of halal-certified products after Lucknow police booked some organisations for providing forged certificates to retailers.

“In the interest of public health, production, storing, distribution and sale of halal certified edible items banned in Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect,” the official order stated.

According to a separate UP government decree, pharmaceuticals, medical gadgets, and cosmetic items bearing halal-certified labelling would face legal action.

This comes after Lucknow police on Friday registered a case against a company and a few other organisations for allegedly exploiting people’s religious sentiments to boost sales by providing forged halal certificates.

The case has been lodged against Halal India Private Limited, Chennai; Jamiat Ullema Hind Halal Trust, New Delhi; Halal Council of India, Mumbai; and Jamiat Ullema, Mumbai.

The said case was registered at the Hazratganj police station based on a complaint lodged by Shailendra Kumar Sharma, a resident of Motijheel Colony in Aishbagh.

The complainant has raised concerns over a potential large-scale conspiracy, indicating attempts to decrease the sale of products from companies lacking the halal certificate, which is illegal.

There is an apprehension that this unfair advantage is being passed on to anti-social and anti-national elements, the complaint added.

The complaint further alleged that the issuance of halal certificates for vegetarian products like oil, soap, toothpaste, and honey, where no such certification is necessary, suggests a deliberate criminal conspiracy targeting a specific community and its products.

The complainant also alleged that, under the guise of religion, “unrestrained propaganda” is being pursued within a particular section of society to discourage the use of products lacking a halal certificate.

Kumar also expressed concern over these individuals amassing disproportionate profits and potentially channelling funds towards supporting terrorist organisations and anti-national endeavours, the statement said.

As far as the charges are concerned, the case has been registered under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 298 (uttering words, etc, with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC.

(With PTI inputs)