HC allows cattle slaughter, but with stringent conditions -Herald

HC allows cattle slaughter, but with stringent conditions May 1, 2013 TEAM HERALD teamherald@herald-goa.com PANJIM: A division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa, on Tuesday, issued an interim order allowing the slaughter of cattle at the Goa Meat Complex, but placed stringent conditions including that of proper certification of animals before slaughter and certification in the presence of representatives of the government and the petitioner. justify;">Earlier, a committee constituted by the court in its report had pointed out various illegalities in the complex. The committee also recommended: The activities can commence without any further delay under monitoring and supervision by an independent committee comprising the deputy collector, Ponda, SDPO Ponda, and representative of the Animal Husbandry Department not below the rank of Assistant Director so that the slaughtering of animals takes place as per the rules and regulation in force and that the common man is not punished for the mismanagement of the Goa Meat Complex abattoirs. Agreeing with this the court allowed the slaughtering of bulls under the provisions of the Goa, Daman and Diu, Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978, the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and rules framed there under, but added that a representative of the petitioner should be present at the time of certification of the animals. The court also decreed that no animals shall be slaughtered unless it has a certificate from the ‘competent authority’ under the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995. Under this act, the ‘competent authority cannot give a certificate if the animal is or is likely to become economical for the purpose of drought or any kind of agricultural operations. In case such a certificate is not issued, the cattle shall be returned to the owner. The court also prevented slaughter of animals from outside the state, animals below the age of 12 years, and that no animal shall be transported in violation of the Prevention of Transportation of Animals Rules. The court also directed that the state government to take appropriate action against the officials of the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services, who have been certifying animals illegally. It also directed that the 131 animals currently in the Goa Meat Complex be fed and bathed until appropriate orders are passed regarding them. In its report to the court, the committee submitted that the veterinary officer of the Animal Husbandry Department posted at Goa Meat Complex was an additional charge in addition to his regular posting and used to issue fitness certificates within two and a half hours of the animals being brought for slaughter and that instead of one certificate for one animal, the certificate issued used to cover upto 19 animals. The committee also reported that despite the stunning of animals before slaughter being a must, the committee learnt that the gun was not used for the last three years. They also reported that during the transportation of animals from neighbouring states, animals are loaded more than the capacity and are unable to stand, so the traders put green chillies in their eyes to make them stand for slaughter. The committee also concluded that the Veterinary Officer of the Animal Husbandry Department posted at Goa Meat Complex was giving certificate to young animals ‘most probably’ under pressure from someone. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/HC-allows-cattle-slaughter-but-with-stringent-conditions/73918.html