Mumbai, July 27 (PTI): Bombay High Court today asked the Maharashtra government to consider providing non-vegetarian food once a week and eggs for breakfast daily in prisons.

The order came on a petition by a 1993 serial blasts convict, Sardar Shawali Khan, who pointed out that Delhi’s Tihar jail and Tamil Nadu prisons offered non-vegetarian often.

Mumbai attacks convict Ajmal Kasab is among those serving time in a Maharashtra jail, while Tihar’s famous inmates include A. Raja, Kanimozhi and Suresh Kalmadi.

“Canteens in Tihar jail and Tamil Nadu prisons provide non-vegetarian food to prisoners thrice a week... why is it banned in Maharashtra?” Khan’s lawyers A.M.Z Ansari and Farhana Shah said. The then IG (prisons) had in December 2008 banned non-vegetarian food in the canteen.

Public prosecutor P.A. Pol said non-vegetarian food was given to prisoners only four times a year. At this, the court said some relief could be given.

“We understand that no prisoner should get five-star treatment but some reasonable relief has to be given to them. Don’t give them everyday, but once a week they can be allowed to purchase non-vegetarian food,” Justice Ranjana Desai, part of a two-judge bench with Justice R.V. More, said.

Pol said he would meet prison officials to discuss the once-a-week proposal. The court then adjourned the hearing for two weeks.