Bombay HC Directs Govt-Formed Committee To Set Guidelines For Slaughter Of ‘Not Useful’ Animals Under Animal Preservation Act

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it has constituted a committee headed by a former high court judge to lay down guidelines for the slaughter of animals which are “not useful” for certain purposes provided under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act.

The Act aims to prohibit the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks that are useful for milching (milk production), breeding, draught or agricultural purposes and also to restrict slaughter for the preservation of other animals suitable for the said purposes.

A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik directed a committee to lay down such guidelines for the slaughter of animals within 4 months.

The HC passed the direction while hearing a PIL by Al-Quraish Human Welfare Association seeking direction to the state to interpret the Act. The petitioners were aggrieved by an order passed by the Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, by which their representation to define 'animals' not suitable for milching, breeding, draught or agricultural purposes under the Act was rejected.

The petitioners sought directions from the State Government to fix the age for bulls and cattle available for slaughter by interpreting the said Act.

On Tuesday, Additional Government Pleader Milind More submitted that on February 20 the government appointed a committee headed by a former HC judge to evolve guidelines for the slaughter of animals not suitable for purposes mentioned in the Act.

The Court noted that the expression 'not useful' has not been defined under the Act and thus it is necessary to lay down the guidelines. It then directed the committee to lay down appropriate guidelines within 4 months. It also granted liberty to the petitioners to put forth their views before the said committee.