Ahmedabad: In a major relief for Patan’s meat and chicken shops closed since Jan, Gujarat High Court has directed the local nagarpalika to decide on their No Objection Certificate (NOC) applications in accordance with the law.
After hearing both sides, Justice Nikhil Kariel directed the shop owners to file fresh NOC applications by Nov 13, 2026. The HC ordered the nagarpalika to decide on the applications by Dec 4 while addressing all contentions raised by the applicants. Challenging the rejection, the petitioners approached the court and argued that the local body was insisting on documents and clarifications that fall under the domain of food safety authorities rather than the municipality. The court further clarified that if the nagarpalika considers the district-level committee to be the appropriate authority, it should forward the applications to the committee for a decision. The HC also directed the nagarpalika to inform the court of its decision on the NOC applications.
It said, “The decision taken by the authority concerned shall be placed on record of this court by the respondent – nagarpalika, after providing a copy thereof to the petitioners. It would be open to the respondent – nagarpalika, in case the decision is adverse to them, to amend the petitions so as to challenge the same before this court.”