Court directs MCD to close illegal meat shops

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today ordered the closure of all unlicensed and unauthorised meat-shops in the Capital as they posed a serious threat to the health of the people.

While hearing a PIL, a division bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain directed the MCD to close such meat shops forthwith as the meat sold at shese shops did not confirm with the standard set by the health authorities.

''The animals butchered in a non-scientific manner without checking their health are not for human consumption,'' observed the court.

The court observed that no person should be allowed to sell meat if they did not conform to proper hygiene, quality and standards prescribed under the law.

The court asked the MCD to file a compliance report in this regard within four weeks, and posted the matter for further hearing to May 19.

The bench, while asking the corporation to close down the meat-shops, asked the commissioner of police to provide all assistance to the civic authorities in enforcing the order.

The directions were passed on the PIL filed by Mohd Sharif, through counsel Satyapal Singh, alleging that the existence of eight unauthorised and unlicensed meat-shops in Shahdara area posed a danger to publc health.

UNI PAT SH RN1848