Beef issue

HC order worries traders TNN | May 3, 2013, 04.14 AM IST PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa's recent interim order banning the slaughter of animals from outside the state at the Goa Meat Complex, aka GMC, has traders worried about their business. The order passed by Justices A P Lavande and U V Bakre states, "No animal from outside the state shall be permitted to be slaughtered at the Goa Meat Complex. The competent authority shall ensure that the animal is from the state of Goa." Reacting, All Goa Meat Traders Association secretary Manna Bepari told TOI that most animals slaughtered at the complex are from Maharashtra and Karnataka and the order will eat into their livelihood. "If we are not allowed to slaughter animals brought from outside the state then we will not be able to pay the rent on our shops," Bepari said. He added that the association will approach the high court with its views. The court, in its order of April 30, has stated that no animal below the age of 12 and no animal aged above 12 but found to be economical, shall be slaughtered. "No animal shall be slaughtered unless the veterinary doctor of Goa Meat Complex examines the animal and issues a fitness certificate in terms of Rule 4 (3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001. In case, such a certificate is not issued, the animals brought for slaughter shall be sent back," states the order. The court has also directed the state government to take immediate steps to transfer veterinary officer Ramkrishna Jog and post any other veterinary officer at the Goa Meat Complex. "The entry of animals in the premises of the Goa Meat Complex for the purpose of slaughter shall be only in the presence of an officer duly appointed by the state government and a representative of the petitioners, whose name shall be given in written by petitioners. No other animal shall be permitted to enter the premises of Goa Meat Complex," the court ordered. While directing that no animal shall be slaughtered without a certificate being issued from the competent authority in terms of Sub-Section (2) of Section 4 of the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995, and only the competent authority, duly notified, shall be entitled to issue the certificate for the said purpose, in terms of Section 4 (2) of the Act, the high court ordered that the state government shall take appropriate steps to ensure that no animal is transported in violation of the provisions of the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978. "The 131 animals which are presently at the Goa Meat Complex shall continue to be there since the petitioners have agreed to feed them. An appropriate order will be passed regarding the custody on the next date, which is on May 6," the court stated. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/HC-order-worries-traders/articleshow/19850255.cms