Beef row: Everyone has right to eat particular kind of food for 'happiness', says CJI Thakur

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Thursday joined the intolerance debate when he said that every person has the right to eat a particular kind of food for "happiness".

Thakur, however, added that that should not be for "sadistic" purpose.

The CJI's remarks came in the wake of the recent controversy over consumption of beef.

"I want to eat a particular kind of food. If you allow me to eat, it gives me happiness. Anything that makes me happy is the companion of my human rights, but happiness should not be sadistic. It does not incite violence and anything that is harmless and gives happiness should be treated as human rights," the CJI said on the occasion of the Human Rights Day here.

He made the remarks while referring to the expression -- the Right to Equality of Opportunities in Pursuit of Happiness -- used in the US Constitution and said, "it embraces all human rights".

"I want to have a right to education. I want to have a right opportunity. I want to profess a religion, a particular faith, if you guarantee the right, I am happy. That gives me the happiness. I want to eat a particular kind of food, if you allow me, it gives me happiness," he said.