‘Suitability certificate’ for the animal, ban on public slaughter, imprisonment and fine for violations – the West Bengal government has notified a new set of guidelines for animal slaughter in the state.
The state government said the guidelines were issued in accordance with the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, PTI reported. They were also issued in light of a series of orders passed by the Calcutta High Court in 2018 and 2022.
The rules also clearly stated that slaughtering animals in open public places would also be “strictly prohibited.”
Read also | Suvendu government has real-time promise tracker for Bengal, portal shows 11 schemes ‘in progress’
What do the rules say? What is a fitness certificate?
The West Bengal government has banned the slaughter of animals without a ‘fitness certificate’ provided by the authorities.
“No person shall slaughter any animal, i.e. (bulls, calves, cows, heifers, male and female buffaloes, buffalo calves and castrated bulls) unless he obtains a certificate that the animal is fit for slaughter,” the notification issued by the state government said.
Therefore, as part of the new rules, the mayor concerned or the sabhapati panchayat samiti will have to issue a certificate jointly with a government veterinary surgeon, according to a PTI report.
Before granting permission, the authorities must assess the animal’s age and physical condition, and if the certificate is refused, the aggrieved party will have the right to appeal the decision to the state government. However, this must be done within 15 days from the date of notification of refusal to grant the certificate, the guidelines said.
Read also | BJP government in West Bengal makes Vande Mataram mandatory during school assemblies
In addition, animals found to be permanently incapacitated due to any injury, deformity or incurable disease, or those above 14 years of age, will be eligible for slaughter, the government notification said.
Fine or imprisonment for the violation
Apart from the fitness certificate, a designated place for slaughter has also been notified by the state government, which has banned killing in public and open places.
The notification stated: “An animal for which a certificate has been issued may only be slaughtered in a municipal slaughterhouse or any other slaughterhouse determined by the local administration.”
If anyone is found to be violating the above guidelines, they may face a prison sentence of up to six months, or a fine of up to $1,000 or both, PTI reported. Moreover, all of these crimes fall within cognizable crimes.
A senior police officer told PTI that the aim of this directive is to ensure strict compliance with the existing legal provisions.
