Kolkata, May 14 -- The West Bengal government has issued a fresh public notice reiterating strict compliance measures under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, following earlier directions of the Calcutta High Court.
Nabanna sources said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, during a meeting with senior police officials on Thursday, directed the police to ensure strict enforcement of the existing rules against public slaughter of animals. He is learnt to have instructed the administration to ensure that cattle are not slaughtered anywhere other than designated and approved locations.
The notification, issued by the Home and Hill Affairs Department from Nabanna, lays down detailed procedures and restrictions regarding the slaughter of animals, including bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes. According to the notice, no person will be allowed to slaughter such animals without obtaining a fitness certificate declaring the animal suitable for slaughter.
The certificate can be jointly issued only by the chairman of a municipality or the sabhapati of a panchayat samiti along with a government veterinary surgeon.
Authorities may issue the certificate only if they are satisfied that the animal is over 14 years of age and no longer fit for work or breeding, or has become permanently incapacitated due to age, injury, deformity or incurable disease.
The government clarified that animals for which certificates are issued can be slaughtered only at municipal slaughterhouses or facilities identified by local authorities. Slaughter in open public places has been strictly prohibited.
The notification further stated that no individual shall resist or obstruct inspections carried out by authorised officials, local administration representatives or government veterinary surgeons for implementation
In case an application for a slaughter fitness certificate is rejected, the aggrieved person may file an appeal before the state government within 15 days from the date of communication of refusal.
Violations of the provisions may attract imprisonment of up to six months, a fine up to Rs 1,000, or both. The government also clarified that offences under the 1950 Act are cognisable in nature.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also warned against illegal transportation of cattle in vehicles and said such incidents would not be tolerated. Police officers were directed to initiate necessary legal action wherever violations are detected, sources said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.