Mumbai: Taking note of a large number of complaints regarding the illegal slaughter of animals and sale of meat, including cow meat in Mumbai, the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police to act upon such complaints.
A division bench of Justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Revati Mohite-Dere asked the state and civic authorities not to limit its action only till registering First Information Reports (FIRs) and invoking legal provisions against the offenders. The authorities are bound to immediately verify complaints made in respect of illegal slaughter or violations of norms and take necessary action. They must ensure that such offences do not repeat in future.
The authorities must ascertain if the offenders carry a licence to conduct their business of slaughtering animals,” the bench said. The bench was seized with a batch of petitions claiming that beef was illegally and openly being sold in Agripada, Dongri and Nagpada areas. The petitions also claimed several such shops in the city function without the requisite BMC permissions.
The bench was informed in March 2018, another bench headed by Justice Rajendra Sawant had directed the Mumbai police to take cognisance of the contentions raised in the petitions and probe the same. Despite the orders of the HC, the police and the BMC did not initiate any action against the illegal shops in the said areas and as a result, the illegal sale of meat and slaughter of animals, continues even today,” one of the advocates, submitted.
In its defence, public prosecutor Aruna Pai informed the judges as and when such complaints are received, the police registers an FIR and appropriate action is always taken against the offenders. To this, the judges said the authorities must ensure such offences are not repeated.