ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: The Supreme Court has directed senior government officials to take prompt actions against contravention of the ban on serving meals at wedding ceremonies.

"We direct the chief secretaries, inspectors-general of police of the four provinces, chief commissioners, the inspector-general of police of the federal capital territory, Islamabad, and the district administrations to ensure that the Supreme Court's Nov 5, 2004, judgment of banning food at Walima receptions is implemented in letter and spirit and action against those who contravene the ban be initiated promptly," said a detailed order dismissing a review petition.

The petition had sought reconsideration of the restriction imposed on serving meals at marriage festivities. A bench comprising Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jillani had dismissed the petition of Chaudhry Mohammad Siddique.

The order asked the Supreme Court secretariat to dispatch its copies to the authorities concerned for compliance. About the contention of not imposing similar embargo on Chehlum, the order observed that since the court was only dealing with provisions relating to the marriage functions within the scope of the Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance 2000 and the Punjab Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Act 2003, therefore, it was not necessary to decide about other customs. It was for the legislature to enact a law as it deemed necessary, the order suggested.

It said that in view of Article 143 of the Constitution, the Punjab government's law allowing serving of one dish to guests at Walima receptions could not be enacted as that was inconsistent with the Federal Government Ordinance II of 2000.