The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has issued a notification reiterating the total ban on slaughter of any cattle or buffaloes without the mandatory fitness certificate. In its announcement, the government cited the Bengal Act of 1950 and a 2018 order of the Calcutta High Court.
An amended notification under the West Bengal Slaughter of Animals Control Act, 1950 says that no cattle or buffalo can be slaughtered without an official certification declaring the animal fit for slaughter.
The government has said that only the chairman of any municipality or the president of any Panchayat Samiti, together with the government veterinary officer, will issue a health certificate after both agree in writing that the animal is over 14 years of age – making it unfit for work or breeding – or that the animal is permanently unfit due to old age, injury or other illness.
“No open public slaughter”
The notification also prohibits public slaughterhouses, with the provision that the animal will only be slaughtered at Municipal slaughterhouses or slaughterhouses designated by the local administration.
Violation of the West Bengal Control of Slaughter of Animals Act, 1950 can result in a fine of six months imprisonment or a fine of up to ₹1000, or both.
“All offenses committed under the 1950 Act will be treated as cognizable offences,” the notification said.
In case of refusal to issue a certificate of fitness, the person can appeal to the state government within 15 days of receiving the notice of refusal of the certificate.
The Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government has taken a number of measures after ending Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule.
All offenses committed under the 1950 Act will be treated as cognizable offences.
The BJP won 206 seats in the 294-member assembly, a big shift in the state where it had earlier secured 77 seats in the previous elections. The BJP came to power in Bengal for the first time since independence. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which won 212 seats in the latest assembly polls, finished a distant second with 80 seats and is leading in one constituency.
