NHRC calls Railway Board report on halal food 'incomplete', seeks detailed vendor data

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday termed the Railway Board’s response regarding the service of halal-certified food on trains as "incomplete" and lacking transparency, directing the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to submit a fresh Action Taken Report.

The commission was hearing a complaint alleging that Indian Railways exclusively serves halal-processed meat in non-vegetarian meals, which the complainant argued discriminates against other communities and violates passengers' freedom of choice.

In its initial submission, the Railway Board stated that there is no official provision for selling or serving halal-certified food on Indian Railways and that it strictly adheres to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. Officials cited a recent submission to the Chief Information Commission (CIC), where they confirmed that no records exist regarding a specific policy on halal food or passenger consent for the same.

However, the NHRC found this explanation insufficient. The commission observed that the "freedom of choice of passengers" is a fundamental right, entitling individuals to know the nature of the food they consume.

The rights body noted that for meat to be qualified as 'halal', it generally requires slaughter by a Muslim, as per specific religious interpretations. If such meat is exclusively served, the NHRC warned it could raise concerns regarding employment discrimination against individuals of other faiths. It also highlighted the mandates of the 'Sikh Reht Maryada', which prohibits the consumption of halal meat.

Crucially, the NHRC pointed out that the Railway Board's report failed to provide specific details about the vast network of vendors and contractors IRCTC employs.

"The report submitted by the Railways does not provide details of vendors or contractors serving halal food, jhatka food, or both types of non-vegetarian food," the commission noted.

In its directive, the NHRC has asked IRCTC to provide a comprehensive list of all food contractors and vendors operating across railway stations, trains, and hotels. The new report must specify against each vendor whether the meat served is halal, jhatka, or both.

Expanding the scope of the issue, the commission also directed the Ministry of Tourism to explain why current hotel classification and star-ranking guidelines do not require establishments to disclose the method of slaughter used for non-vegetarian dishes.

The NHRC has granted the concerned authorities four weeks to respond with the requisite data and action plans.

(Inputs from IANS)