Team to probe into illegal butchering of animals
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday granted an ad interim relief directing the temporary stoppage of cattle slaughtering at Goa Meat Complex.
The order came in response to a petition filed by Govansh Raksha Abhiyan (Goa) alleging illegal slaughtering of animals and an “unholy nexus between Goa Meat Complex officials and butchers who carry out illegal slaughtering of animals.”
Considering the seriousness of the issue, the bench comprising of Justices R P Sondurbaldota and U V Bakre appointed a three-member committee to look into the allegations.
The committee, comprising the Director of Animal Husbandry, advocate Manik Thali and member of Goa Civil Services Prasanna Acharya, has been asked to submit a report by April 30.
Senior advocate Subodh Kantak and advocate Preetam Talaulikar, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, had raised concern about the implementation of Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978 and Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995.
They had argued that illegal slaughter of animals at Goa Meat Complex was in brazen disregard of the two legislations.
In its order, the High Court stated that the “Ponda Mamlatdar is directed to immediately visit Goa Meat Complex and take inventory of the animals brought to Goa Meat Complex for the purpose of slaughter. He shall also note, along with the number and description of animals, the name of the person who has brought the animal for the purpose of slaughter.”
“The Mamlatdar shall furnish copy of inventory to the petitioners as well as to the office of the Advocate General. The Goa Meat Complex is directed not to return custody of any of the animals to any person until further orders. The petitioners have offered to feed the animals during the interim period.”
“Goa Meat Complex shall permit the petitioners to bring the cattle feed to its complex for the purpose of feeding the animals. The Ponda police is directed to give assistance, if necessary, to the committee as well as the Mamlatdar. The petitioners are at liberty to remain present at the time of inventory,” the order stated.
Later in a note to the Ponda Mamlatdar and the Ponda police inspector, the government advocate Dattaprasad Lawande stated that the High Court had passed an interim relief that “Pending hearing and final disposal of the petition, the respondents have been directed to stop forthwith slaughter of animals including animals presently in the premises of the Goa Meat Complex and further to stop forthwith cow and bull slaughter in the Goa Meat Complex.”
Mamlatdar takes stock of animals
PONDA: The Ponda Mamlatdar acting on the directives of the High Court took an inventory of the animals at Goa Meat Complex. According to the inventory, there are 132 animals at Goa Meat Complex.
“Based on our petition, the High Court has temporarily directed to stop slaughtering of animals till the three-member committee appointed submits its report,” Govansh Raksha Abhiyan President Hanumant Parab told Herald.
Stoppage worries meat traders
PORVORIM/PONDA: Butchers and meat traders in the State have reacted with alarm over a temporary halt in the slaughter of cattle, with an association head claiming that it would severly hamper their business.
Kureshi Meat Traders Association of Goa President Anwar Ismail Bepari stated that the temporarily stoppage of cattle slaughtering at Goa Meat Complex would severely hamper their business activities.
Meat traders in Ponda are also worried that the stoppage of cattle slaughtering will ruin their business.
