West Bengal Govt Announces Enforcement Of Cow Slaughter Law, Crack Down On Illegal Trade

BJP led Bengal govt reiterates 1950 law, mandates joint certification for cattle slaughter, bans public slaughter, warns of jail and fines, orders strict action on illegal trade

West Bengal govt 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. (Image: PTI)

The newly formed BJP-led government in West Bengal on Wednesday cited a 1950 Bengal law and a 2018 Calcutta High Court order to issue a notice, reiterating that no cattle or buffalo can be slaughtered without official certification declaring the animal fit for slaughter.

The notice states that certification can only be issued jointly by local civic authorities and a government veterinary surgeon if the animal is over 14 years old and unfit for work or breeding, or permanently incapacitated due to age, injury, deformity, or incurable disease.

Certified animals can be slaughtered only at authorised slaughterhouses, while slaughter in open public places has been strictly prohibited. The notice also empowers authorised officials to conduct inspections and warns that violations can attract imprisonment of up to six months, a fine up to Rs 1,000, or both.

In its order, the state govt 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.

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 a key issue 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. “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 order said.

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