The Gujarat government has prohibited the killing of animals and birds for consumption, along with the sale of meat, poultry and fish within its municipality areas from August 29 to September 5, the duration of the Jain community's Paryushan fast. The ban has been enforced to "respect the sentiments" of the minority group.

The order was announced through a notice issued by the director of municipalities on August 22. Based on a plea filed by a petitioner, Justice S H Vora of the Gujarat High Court directed the government to justify its decision and asked the petitioner to appeal before an appropriate bench. The petitioner's counsel, Jay Thakkar said, "The matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday."

While the ban on the sale of meat, poultry and fish will not apply in cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara, slaughterhouses there will remain closed. The apex court, in 2008, had allowed the closure of slaughterhouses during "Paryushan" to honour the religious sentiments Jains.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, "The government has given orders following the previous Supreme Court order and present legal provisions, which allow the banning of slaughter of animals and sale of meat and fish. This practice has been observed for several years."