The notice follows complaints from Sikh organisations alleging that only halal-prepared meat is being served in railway catering services, which they argue is discriminatory and violates the religious practices of certain communities. The matter was taken up after the NHRC found the initial report submitted by the Railways to be incomplete and lacking specific information.
In its communication dated January 12, the NHRC observed that passengers have a fundamental right to know how the food served to them is prepared. The Commission noted that as per Sikh Rehat Maryada, the consumption of halal meat is prohibited for Sikhs, making transparency in food preparation essential. It also flagged concerns that halal-only practices could indirectly restrict employment opportunities for people from non-Muslim communities in food preparation and supply chains.
The NHRC pointed out that the Railway Board’s report failed to specify which vendors or contractors supply halal meat, jhatka meat, or both. It further noted that Indian Railways, through IRCTC, engages multiple contractors to provide catering services on trains, stations, and railway-run hotels, but there is no publicly available clarity on the standards followed by these vendors.
The Commission has sought three key details from the Railway Board: a complete list of all catering vendors and contractors, clear identification of the type of meat supplied by each contractor along with the trains and stations where it is served, and a separate report outlining steps to address these concerns within railway quality and service norms.
Responding earlier, the Railway Board had stated that Indian Railways and IRCTC adhere to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines and that there is no official policy mandating the serving of halal-certified food on trains. The issue was also examined by the Central Information Commission (CIC) in the past, which found no record of any formal policy, approval mechanism, or passenger consent related to halal food.
The NHRC has also issued a notice to the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, noting that existing hotel classification and rating guidelines do not require disclosure of meat preparation methods. The Ministry has been asked to review the matter and submit its response within the same four-week timeframe.
The Commission said further action would depend on the replies received from the concerned authorities.
