After Case Against Certification Organisations, UP Govt May Ban Halal-Certified Products

The Uttar Pradesh government is contemplating a statewide prohibition on the sale of products carrying halal certificates, as disclosed by a government spokesperson to The Indian Express. This decision follows the filing of a case in Lucknow against a company and three organisations for endorsing such certificates on retail items in the state.

The complaint, registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station, alleges that "some companies have started certifying products as halal to increase their sale among a community," characterising it as "toying with the public’s faith." The government spokesperson indicated that there is a likelihood of imposing a ban on the sale of such products.

The case has been filed against Halal India Private Limited in Chennai, Jamiat Ullema Hind Halal Trust in New Delhi, Halal Council of India in Mumbai, and Jamiat Ullema in Mumbai. Additionally, it includes allegations against "other unidentified manufacturing companies and their owners, people part of anti-national conspiracy, people funding terror outfits."

In the complaint, resident Shailendra Kumar Sharma states, "It has come to my notice that some companies have started certifying certain products as halal to increase their sale among people from a certain community. This is being done for monetary gains with the use of deceit. You can see such products in markets across the state, and this is like toying with the public’s faith… Through these certificates (for halal), part of a conspiracy, advertisements are being done."

The complaint further expresses concern that "financial gains from the activity are being used to fund terror outfits." It outlines suspicions of a deliberate effort to create animosity among communities and weaken the country.

The case has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy (120-B), promoting enmity between different groups (153-A), uttering words to wound religious feelings (298), extortion (384), cheating (420), forgery (467 and 468), using forged documents as genuine (471), and statements conducing public mischief (505).