The Bombay High Court was hearing a petition of mutton traders who said the four-day ban on slaughter and sale of meat in Mumbai discriminates against their right to a livelihood.

"There is a progressive look to Mumbai. These are regressive steps. We understand the sentiment part. But purchase is an independent choice," the court said. It asked, "All these years you only banned slaughter not sale. How can you take this decision at the 11th hour?"

A two-day beef ban during the Jain community's Paryushan Parva was introduced in 1994, which was later extended to four days. However, it was never implemented until the current order.

To the judges' question, "When you are talking of Ahimsa, how come fish, sea food and eggs are not banned?" the Government lawyer said, "Fish die the moment they are out of water. So there is no slaughter involved," meaning that there should be no slaughter. "We have to change our attitude in view of globalisation," the judges said.

An eight-day straight ban was the original proposal. There have been protests in other States ruled by the BJP also where the ban was sought to be imposed.

Eid-ul-Adha or Bakrid, the Muslim festival which involves animal sacrifice, is during September 25-28.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ruled by the BJP had announced ban on sale of all meat, including mutton and chicken, for four days. The MNS and Shiv Sena defied the ban and protested by selling meat last week.

The Maharashtra Government had relied on the Supreme Court's opinion in 2008 that a nine-day meat ban in Gujarat during the Jains' Paryushan was a reasonable restriction.

The Rajasthan Government imposed the restrictions issuing an order last Wednesday banning the sale of meat during Paryushan, a festival of Jains. The ban will be in force on September 17 and 18. The directive was issued by the directorate of local bodies. Slaughter houses and meat and fish shops will remain closed on these days. The ban will be in force on September 27, Anant Chaturdashi, celebrated by Digambar Jains.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court banned the sale of beef in the State, allowing a public interest litigation (PIL) against cow slaughter. Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and justice Janak Raj Kotwal issued the order on advocate Parimoksh Seth's PIL. The PIL had argued that as per the provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code killing of bovine animals is an offence punishable under Section 298-A. And, possession of slaughtered animal is an act punishable under Section 298-B. There were widespread protests against the order.