10th K.C.Law College National Moot Court Competition
10th K.C.Law College National Moot Court Competition
10th K.C.Law College National Moot Court Competition
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 05
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION 06
STATEMENT OF FACTS 07
STATEMENT OF ISSUES 08
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS 09
ISSUE 1: Whether leave be granted to the present appeal under Article 136 of The Constitution of
India.
ISSUE 2: Whether the MPA Act, 1976 is ultravires to the Indian Constitution 1949.
PRAYER 24
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
LEGISLATION
CASES REFFERED
2. Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja and Others (2014) 7 SCC 547
4. Chikkrange Gowda v. State of Mysore, AIR 1956 SC 731; State of U.P. v. Ram
5. Hinsa Virdohak Sangh vs. Mirzapur Moti Kuresh Jamat and Others
6. Indian Handicrafts Emporium and Others vs. Union of India and Others 1999 IIAD Delhi
7. Mahadayal Premchandra v. C.T.O., AIR 1958 SC 667; Dhakeswari Cotton Mills Ltd. .v.
8. Mr. ‘X’ v. Hospital ‘Z’ (1998) 8 SCC 296 : (AIR 1999 SC 495)
11. Ram Saran Das & Bros. V. Commercial Tax officer, AIR 1962 SC 1326; Kunhayammed
12. Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1961 SC 715; Beli Ram v. Salig Ram, Air 1996
SC 757
13. S.G. Chemicals & dyes Trading Employees’ Union v. S.G. Chemicals & Dyes Trading
LEGAL DATABASES
1. www.manupatra.com
2. www.indiancaselaws.org
MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT
[3]
10th K.C.Law College National Moot Court Competition
3. www.indlaw.com
4. www.indiankanoon.org
5. www.judic.nic.in
6. www.lexisnexis.com
7. www.scconline.co.in
8. www.westlaw.com
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Hon’ble Honourable
Art. Article
Co. Company
Commr. Commissioner
Corp. Corporation
S. Section
SC Supreme Court
v. versus
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has the jurisdiction to hear the instant matter under Article
Under Article 136 the Supreme Court is authorised to grant Special leave to appeal where the
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. BACKGROUND
An amendment was brought about to the Mahadpur Preservation of Animals Act, 1976 which
imposed a total ban on the transportation, slaughter, import and possession of any flesh of cows,
The amendment brought about new provision which stated that the burden of proving that the
slaughter, transport, export outside the State, sale, purchase or possession of Flesh of cow, bull or
bullock, was not in contravention of the MPA, 1976 is upon the accused.
2. THE CONFLICT
The amendment brought about by the government developed restlessness among certain class of
public as well as slaughter house owners who considered this act to be highly arbitrary and
unconstitutional.
Being aggrieved by the said ban, a Public Interest Litigation was filed before the Hon’ble High
Animals Act, 1976. The Hon’ble High Court upheld the validity of the amendments.
The petitioners not being satisfied by the orders passed by the Hon’ble High court, are now
before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India invoking Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of
STATEMENT OF ISSUES
ISSUE I
Whether leave be granted to the present appeal under Article 136 of The Constitution of
India.
ISSUE II.
Whether the MPA Act, 1976 is ultravires to the Indian Constitution 1949.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
It is humbly submitted before this Hon’ble court that the present case, that the case
before hand is not fit for the grant of leave under Article 136 of the Constitution of
India, which vests it with a plenary jurisdiction in the matter of entertaining and
hearing appeals by granting of special leave. In the instant case, the facts are not clear
and leave can only be granted where the facts are undisputed. The power under Article
136 can only be exercised in extra-ordinary circumstances. This court itself has
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
The amendment to the MPA Act, 1976 brought about new provisions namely Sections
possession of any flesh of cow’s bulls and bullocks slaughtered outside the state of
Mahadpur. Also by Sections 9A and 9B the burden of proving that the slaughter
transports export outside the state sale purchase or possession of flesh of cow bull or
bullock was not in contravention of the MPA act, 1976 is upon the accused.
ARGUMENTS ADVANCED
1. It is humbly submitted that the present case is not fit for the grant of leave by the Hon’ble
Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution which vests it with a plenary
jurisdiction1 in the matter of entertaining and hearing appeals, by granting of special leave.
2. The Supreme Court has affirmed in Bharat Bank v. Employees of Bharat Bank2, that this
discretionary power though not subject to any limitation, is to be exercised sparingly and
in extraordinary cases only. The court has itself imposed certain limitations to its own
powers 3. The leave may be allowed and granted only in exceptional cases, such a breach
of principles of natural justice by the order appealed against4, or disregard to the forms of
legal process or substantial or grave injustice had been done. 5 There is a requirement of
“exceptionally sound reasons” for the appeal to be admitted under Article 136, when the
3. However in the instant matter, there is neither gross miscarriage of justice 7 nor violation
of the principles of natural justice by the order of the High Court. There is no substantial
question of law relating to the interpretation of the Constitution as nothing of this sort has
happened in the instant case. Therefore, this case lacks the “sound or extraordinary
grounds” requisite for being entertained under Article 136 since the claims of violation of
fundamental rights, or grave injustice and “special circumstances” existent are unfounded.
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
1. It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Supreme Court by the respondents that the
2. The amendment to the MPA Act, 1976 brought about new provisions namely Sections
possession of any flesh of cows bulls and bullocks slaughtered outside the state of
Mahadpur. Also by Sections 9A and 9B the burden of proving that the slaughter
transports export outside the state sale purchase or possession of flesh of cow bull or
bullock was not in contravention of the MPA Act, 1976 is upon the accused.
3. It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Supreme Court by the respondents that the
amendment does not violate Article 21, 19(1) (g) and Articles 25 & 29 of the
Constitution of India.
7. Chikkrange Gowda v. State of Mysore, AIR 1956 SC 731; State of U.P. v. Ram Manorath, AIR 1972 SC 701
Protection of life and personal liberty:- No person shall be deprived of his life or
RIGHT TO PRIVACY:
In India right of privacy has been culled out of the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution and
other provisions relating to the fundamental rights read with the directive principles of State
Policy.
The right to privacy was more specifically in issue in the context of disclosure of the
outcome of the blood test in Mr. "X" v. Hospital "Z", reported in in which the appellant's
blood sample was tested and he was found to be HIV positive which resulted in the
appellant's proposed marriage being called off. The Supreme Court held that the right to
privacy has been culled out of the provisions of Article 21 and other provisions of the
Constitution. However, the right was not absolute and may be lawfully restricted or
freedom of ethers. It was held that, having regard to the fact that the appellant was found
to be HIV (+), its disclosure would not be violative of either the rule of confidentiality or
the appellant's right of privacy as "A", whom the appellant was likely to marry, was saved
in time by the disclosure, otherwise, she too would have been infected with the dreadful
8
Mr. ‘X’ v. Hospital ‘Z’ (1998) 8 SCC 296 : (AIR 1999 SC 495)
disease if the marriage had taken place and consummated. Once the law provides
"venereal disease" as a ground for divorce to either husband or wife, such a person who
was suffering from that disease, even prior to the marriage cannot be said to have any
It was held that, as one of the basic Human Rights, the right of privacy is not treated as
absolute and is subject to such action as may be lawfully taken for the prevention of
others.
The wife filed the petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty and
adultery against husband under Section 10 of Divorce Act. The husband also asserted that
his wife had adulterous affairs with one person which resulted in family way. The
pregnancy of wife was terminated at All India Institute of medical Sciences and records
and slides of tabular gestation were preserved in the hospital. The husband filed an
application for seeking DNA test of the sides with a view to ascertain if the husband is the
father of the foetus. The Court held that the right to privacy though a fundamental right
forming part to right to life is not an absolute right. When the right to privacy has come
under a public document, in that case the person cannot insist that that such DNA test
would infringe his or her right to privacy. The foetus as no longer a part of her body and
when it has been preserved in AIIMS the wife who has already discharged the same
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Ms. ‘X’ v. Mr. ‘Z’AIR 2002 Delhi 217
The Court held that the right to privacy though a fundamental right forming part to right
to life is not an absolute right. When the right to privacy has come under a public
document, in that case the person cannot insist that that such DNA test would infringe his
or her right to privacy. The foetus as no longer a part of her body and when it has been
preserved in AIIMS the wife who has already discharged the same cannot claim it and
In reference to the above stated cases and the Courts decisions it can be well established
that the right to privacy is not an absolute right and also cannot be read in isolation. It
has to be read along with the Directive Principle of State Policy and Public interest.
consuming meat have often led to riot like situations in many states, however, such a right
being a fringe right, the said ban does not violate Articles 19 or 21. In order to gage
validity of the Act on the touch stone of Article 21, the scope of Article 21 had to be taken
into consideration. The context of life which is to be taken away had to be considered. In
this context what had to be seen was the core aspect of the legislation and peripheral
aspects. Though the core aspect could not be breached, any fringed right could be taken
away.
RIGHT TO FOOD
The right to choice of food falls under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The right to food is one of the most basic human rights, closely linked to the right to life. Human
In 2001, during a visit to Jaipur it was observed that 5 kms outside the city of Jaipur city, the
Food Corporation of India (FCI) go downs were overflowing with grains. The grains were kept
outside the go-downs and the rain had fermented the grain and it was rotting. 5 kms from the go-
downs was a village where the people were eating in rotation, classically called “rotation eating”,
or “rotation hunger” where some members of the family eat on one day and the remaining
persons eat on the other day. In 2001, 60 million tonnes were in the Food Corporation of India
(FCI) go-downs, whereas the buffer stocks required were 20 million tonnes. The Government had
40 million tonnes above the buffer stock and people were dying of starvation - such were the
reports all over the country. On that simple proposition the PUCL in Rajasthan filed a case,
The court affirmed the right to food as necessary to uphold Article 21 of the Constitution of
India, which guarantees the fundamental right to “life with human dignity.” It decreed that all the
PDS shops, if closed, were to be re-opened within one week. The Food Corporation of India
The above case has demonstrated “that a State cannot escape the responsibility of ensuring the
10
PUCL vs. Union of India & others(1997) 3 SCC 433
Right to Food and the case continues – seeking to further strengthen the formulation and
Thus Article 19(1)(g) of The Constitution of India provides Right to practice any profession or to
carry on any occupation, trade or business to all citizens subject to Art.19 (6) which enumerates
the nature of restriction that can be imposed by the state upon the above right of the citizens. Sub
clause (g) of Article 19 (1) confers a general and vast right available to all persons to do any
particular type of business of their choice. But this does not confer the right to do anything
consider illegal in eyes of law or to hold a particular job or to occupy a particular post of the
choice of any particular person. Further Art 19(1) (g) does not mean that conditions be created by
the state or any statutory body to make any trade lucrative or to procure customers to the
fundamental right to carry on business in such place since the fundamental rights cannot be
availed in the justification of an unlawful act or in preventing a statutory authority from lawfully
Referring to the case of Hinsa Virdohak Sangh vs. Mirzapur Moti Kuresh Jamat and Others11
Here, with a view to appease the Jain community the State Government and the Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation have, from time to time, taken decisions/passed resolutions for closure of
the municipal slaughter houses in Ahmedabad during the period of the Paryushan festival (which
is an important Jain festival). This has resulted in serious violation of the fundamental rights of
the respondents to trade and do business in meat etc. The respondents have alleged that in the
MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENT
[16]
10th K.C.Law College National Moot Court Competition
year 1993, the State Government accepted the demand of some organizations belonging to the
Jain community for closure of the municipal slaughter houses during the period of Paryushan and
issued directions to the Corporation to take appropriate action accordingly. In subsequent years,
the Corporation passed resolutions for closure of the municipal slaughter houses for different
It is alleged that the impugned resolutions were passed by the Corporation in view of the demand
made by some organizations belong to the Jain community and it has nothing to do with the
general public interest. It was further submitted that the fundamental rights of those engaged in
the trade and business of slaughtering animals and/or selling meat etc which is guaranteed under
Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution cannot be put to peril or jeopardized with a view to assuage
religious sentiments of a particular community. It was submitted that a large number of people
living in Ahmedabad are non-vegetarians and their right to food of their choice is an integral part
of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution which cannot be violated at the
However, in the present case, the closure of the slaughter houses is only for 9 days and not for a
considerable period of time. Therefore, a balanced view of the matter was to be taken.
Freedom of conscience and free profession practise, and propagation of religion.- Subject to
public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part, all persons are equally
entitles to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess practice and propagate religion.
(1) Nothing in this article shall affect this operation of any existing law or prevent the state
(a) Regulating or restricting any economic financial political or other secular activity
(b) Providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious
In the case of Mohd. Hanif Quareshi v. State of Bihar12 the main issue that was raised
Whether Bihar Preservation and Improvement of Animals Act, 1955 (Bihar II of 1956) is
(i) A total ban on the slaughter of cows of all ages and calves of cows and calves of she-
buffaloes, male and female, is quite reasonable and valid and is in consonance with
(ii) A total ban on the slaughter of she-buffaloes or breeding bulls or working bullocks
(cattle as well as buffaloes) as long as they are as milch or draught cattle is also
(iii) A total ban on the slaughter of she-buffaloes, bulls and bullocks (cattle or buffalo)
animals cannot be supported as reasonable in the interest of the general public. The
impugned Acts in the light of the aforesaid conclusions were arrived at.
12
Mohd. Hanif Quareshi v. State of Bihar AIR 1998 Guj 220, (1999) 3 GLR 2007
Protection of Interest of Minorities.- (1) any section of the citizens residing in the territory of
India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the
(2) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State
or receiving aid out of the state funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of
them.
Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry The State shall endeavour to organise
agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take
steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves
As we know, the said Act was passed in furtherance of Article 48 of the Constitution of India.
The Amendment Act, 1995 also is in furtherance of the said Article. However, the object and
scope of the said act travelled far beyond the legislative sphere.
The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties are
sections of the Constitution of India that prescribe the fundamental obligations of the State to its
citizens and the duties of the citizens to the State. These sections comprise a constitutional bill of
rights for government policy-making and the behavior and conduct of citizens. These sections are
considered vital elements of the constitution, which was developed between 1947 and 1949 by
Firstly, Clause (2) of the objects and reasons and submitted that the words used viz "Indian
.Secondly, Clause (3) indicated that this is for the purpose of securing directive principles and in
‘Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles Notwithstanding anything contained
in Article 13, no law giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing all or any of the
principles laid down in Part IV shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent
with, or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by Article 14 or Article 19 and no law
containing a declaration that it is for giving effect to such policy shall be called in question in any
court on the ground that it does not give effect to such policy: Provided that where such law is
made by the Legislature of a State, the provisions of this Article shall not apply thereto unless
such law, having been reserved for the consideration of the President, has received his assent
The aim and object of the legislation was to ban cow slaughter as also slaughtering of its conjoins
and for that purpose Sections 5A to 5D were incorporated so that the State could implement the
said Act and for that purpose the said provisions ban the trade of beef both, import and export and
possession of beef. A complete ban has been imposed on lot of things, for example, ivory.
The complete ban has been upheld on different commodities. Section 5D was incorporated to
prevent mischief.
The policy of the State to further the goal under Article 48 could not be faulted and Sections 5A
to 5D are ancillary provisions to advance the goal under Article 48. The State could impose ban
for the purpose of implementation of the object of the Act. The main goal of the Act being
prevention of slaughter, ancillary provisions making ban on import and export had a nexus with
the object which was sought to be achieved viz prevention of slaughter and there were no
Referring to the case of in Indian Handicrafts Emporium and Others vs. Union of India and
Others:12
“We, therefore, are of the opinion that the respondents would be entitled to take physical
possession of the ivory now in seizure. The question, however, would be as to whether the
Central Government should destroy the articles including idols of gods and goddesses and
household items like sofa sets depicting cultural and religious heritage.
It is stated that similar articles are being displayed in museums as a part of cultural and religious
heritage of India. In view of our findings afore mentioned, the appropriate authority would be
12
Indian Handicrafts Emporium and Others vs. Union of India and Others 1999 IIAD Delhi
entitled to continue to keep in possession the said articles. We, however, direct that the same be
kept at appropriate museums or at such suitable places where the statutory authorities feel fit and
proper but they should not be destroyed. With the afore mentioned directions and observations,
Amongst all the fundamental rights, Article 21 has influenced the development of landscape of
human rights in India, the most. In order to draw the content of ‘life’ under Article 21, the court
identifies every basic requirement for guaranteeing dignified life of human being as part of the
celebrated provision of the Constitution and made it integral part of the rights framework. A new
dimension has been added to the interpretation of ‘right to life and personal liberty’ by
introducing ‘negative’ as well as ‘positive’ obligation on the state which covers not only ‘duty to
restraint’ but also of ‘duty to facilitate entitlements’. For determining the constituent of the
‘right’, the judiciary has always looked for such facets of ‘life’ which is essential for human
Referring to the case of Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja and Others13
“The PCA Act, as already indicated, was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain,
suffering or cruelty on animals. Section 3 of the Act deals with duties of persons having charge of
animals, which is mandatory in nature and hence confer corresponding rights on animals. Rights
13
Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja and Others (2014) 7 SCC 547
so conferred on animals are thus the antithesis of a duty and if those rights are violated, law will
The Apex Court has brought within its ambit the Right of Life for Animals as well. This right
therefore ensures that the government ensures organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry
on modern and scientific lines. The cow and its progeny are the backbone of the state’s agrarian
economy and to protect it and to prevent cruelty the law was brought into effect.
PRAYER
In light of the Issues Raised, Arguments Advanced and Authorities Cited, the counsel for the
1. TO DECLARE the case not fit for the grant of leave under Article 136 of the Constitution of
India.
AND / OR
Pass any order that this Hon’ble court may deem fit in the interest of
AND FOR THIS ACT OF KINDNESS, THE COUNSEL FOR THE RESPONDENT AS IN DUTY
BOUND SHALL EVER PRAY