West Bengal govt bans cow slaughter without valid certificate

KOLKATA: The state on Wednesday cited a 1950 Bengal law and a 2018 Calcutta HC order to issue a public notice, banning cow slaughter without valid certificates, confirming the animal was fit for slaughter.

The govt order said, "No person shall slaughter any animal thereby meaning (bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, buffalo calves and castrated buffaloes) unless he has obtained in respect thereof a certificate that the animal is fit for slaughter."

The notice mandates that only the chairman of a municipality or the sabhapati of a panchayat samiti and a govt vet surgeon may issue a joint certificate on the fitness of an animal for slaughter, if they are both of the opinion "that the animal is over 14 years of age for work or breeding or has become incapacitated due to age, injury, deformity or any incurable disease". Their opinion has to be put down in writing. People can file appeals within a fortnight if certificates are refused.

The govt cited the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950 to issue the order. "Slaughtering of animals, for which a certificate has been issued, shall be prohibited in any open public place," the order said, adding violations could lead to six-month jail, a Rs 1,000 fine or both.

Earlier, the state had directed police to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal cattle slaughter and cattle trade, including cattle markets and extortion rackets. Cattle smuggling and extortion rackets have remained central to political and administrative debate the past few years.

The govt ordered strict enforcement of the Animal Slaughter Control Act to regulate cattle slaughter and related commercial activities. In a directive to all senior police officers, the govt said illegal cattle markets and unauthorised slaughterhouses would not be allowed. "Strict action will be taken against illegal cattle markets, slaughterhouses and illegal mining. It will be ensured licensed and legal mining and cattle trading are conducted smoothly," the ADG (law and order) said.