Cattle slaughter: SC refuses to impose complete ban

New Delhi, Mar 29(UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to impose complete ban on cattle slaughter in the country, in a judgment of far reaching ramifications.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee while disposing off a bunch of petitions, however, directed the authorities to strictly implement the safeguards provided under the relevant acts to ensure only cattle declared fit to be slaughtered by the competent authority were slaughtered.

The court also refused to order the complete closure of M/s Al-Kabeer Exports Ltd. situated in village Rudraram in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh, involved in manufacturing of meat products for exports mainly to countries in Western Asia.

The court also noted the fact that according to stipulations by the Andhra Pradesh government only old and useless buffaloes can be slaughtered. Buffaloes for milching, breeding or draught can not be slaughtered. The court also took note that cow and its progeny including calves of cows and calves of buffaloes can not be slaughtered.

The court, however, made it clear that the government was free to consider the closure of Al-Kabeer abattoir if the company fails to comply with the pollution standards fixed by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APCCB).

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