Calcutta HC refuses to stay West Bengal govt's notice on cow slaughter ban
Kolkata, May 22
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused to stay the West Bengal government's order reiterating a complete ban on the slaughter of any cattle or buffalo without the mandatory fitness certificate ahead of Id-Uz-Zuha celebrations.
The division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi noted that the slaughter of animals, including cows and buffalos, in any open public place is strictly prohibited, and the sacrifice of a cow is no part of the festival of Id-Uz-Zuha and is not a religious requirement under Islam, as held by the Supreme Court.
"In our opinion, the Act of 1950 takes care of the relief prayed for by the petitioner, and we have no doubt that the State will endeavour to implement the Act and Rules made thereunder in its true spirit," the court said, referring to the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950.
Earlier on May 13, the state government stated that the fitness certificate will only be issued by the Chairperson of any Municipality or the President of any Panchayat Samiti, jointly with a Government Veterinary Officer after the both of them agree in writing that the animal is over 14 years of age--rendering it unfit for work or breeding purposes--or that the animal has become permanently incapacitated due to old age, injury, deformity, or any other incurable disease.
The government also banned public slaughterhouses, stating that the animal will only be slaughtered at the Municipal slaughterhouse or at a slaughterhouse designated by the local administration.
The violation of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, could lead to a fine of six months in jail, or to a fine extending up to Rs 1,000, or to both.
In the event of refusal to issue the fitness certificate, a person can appeal to the State Government within 15 days of receiving the communication regarding the rejection of the certificate.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm not from India, but I find this fascinating. The idea of a veterinary officer and municipality chairperson both certifying an animal as unfit - that's some serious bureaucracy! But if it prevents illegal slaughter and maintains peace, maybe it's worth the paperwork. Bakra Eid will still happen with goats, right?
Finally some clarity! I hope this is implemented properly across Bengal. The problem is always in the ground-level execution - local committees and police need to be strict. And yes, for those asking, sacrifices of goats and sheep are perfectly fine. Only cows and buffalos have these restrictions. Makes sense for a state like Bengal which has a large Hindu population too. 🙂
As a Hindu, I appreciate the court's decision. But we also need to be sensitive to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Bakra Eid is important for them, and the court has rightly said cow slaughter is not a religious requirement - so no one should feel offended. The key is proper implementation without harassment. The 6-month jail term is strict, so better follow the rules.
This is actually quite progressive. The fitness certificate system, while bureaucratic, serves to prevent the slaughter of healthy animals needed for dairy and agriculture. The 14-year rule ensures only truly old or incapacitated cattle are used. I wonder how this compares to animal welfare laws in other states. India's federal system means different rules everywhere!
Honestly, I think this creates more confusion than clarity. The joint certification by a municipality chairperson and veterinary officer - these are busy people, how quickly will they issue certificates during
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.