Railways Clarifies on Halal-Certified Food in Trains Amid NHRC Notice

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The Indian Railways has responded to a notice from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the serving of Halal-certified food in trains. According to the Railway Board, there is no official provision for serving Halal-certified food on Indian Railways. The Board cited Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, which are followed by Indian Railways and IRCTC for their food products. A recent complaint to the NHRC alleged that Indian Railways serves only Halal-processed meat in non-vegetarian meals, creating unfair discrimination and human rights violations. However, the Railway Board officials maintained that they follow the FSSAI guidelines and have consistently stated that no Halal-certified food is served in trains. The Board's stance was also supported by the Chief Information Commission (CIC), which recently ordered that no such records or documents exist regarding a policy for Halal-certified food, its approval process, or explicit consent from passengers. Railway officials emphasized that they adhere to the best food practices in their trains, complying with all applicable norms.