Bombay HC seeks BMC’s reply over flaw in slaughter permit system

The court was hearing a petition, seeking curbs on slaughter outside Deonar abattoir on the occasion of Bakri Eid because the licence process was fraught with flaws.

The Bombay high court has directed the municipal commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file an affidavit explaining the flaws in the online licence system for slaughter during Bakri Eid on August 22.

The Bombay high court directed civic chief Ajoy Mehta to file a reply by Thursday. (HT File)

The court was hearing a petition seeking curbs on slaughter outside Deonar abattoir on the occasion of Bakri Eid because the licence process was fraught with flaws. The petitioners said while the rules stated that only one permit was to be issued for slaughtering a sheep or goat to a person, s/he was issued a permit for five.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing a writ petition filed by Dongri based Jiv Maitri Trust through advocate Ashish Mehta. While arguing for the petitioner, senior counsel Dr Sujay Kantawala informed the court that while the Supreme court had restricted slaughtering of animals outside the designated areas, during Bakri Eid animals were slaughtered all over the city. He further argued that rules laid down by the BMC for slaughter were also flouted and effluent released into drains.

While referring to the online application for temporary licence, Kantawala said the petitioner was issued a permit to slaughter five goats as there was no system to verify details given by him.

The court directed civic chief Ajoy Mehta to file a reply by Thursday.