Mumbai: HC directs action against illegal slaughter

The Bombay HC on Tuesday has directed the BMC commissioner and the police to abide by the amended Maharastra Animal Preservation Act (MAPA), which says that slaughtering bulls and bullocks is illegal and action should be taken against the offenders.

The Bombay high court on Tuesday has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner and the police to abide by the amended Maharastra Animal Preservation Act (MAPA), which says that slaughtering bulls and bullocks is illegal and action should be taken against the offenders.

A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice AR Joshi was hearing a petition filed by an organisation, Bhartiya Govansh Rakshan Sanvardhan Parishad. It states that Maharashtra legislative assembly had passed the Maharastra Animal Preservation (Amendment Bill) in 1995 and has received the President’s assent on March 2, 2015.

The petition points out that even on the night of March 2, approximately 1,200 to 1,500 bullocks were slaughtered at Deonar abattoir.

Advocate Praful Patel, representing the petitioner, asked the court to issue directions to the authorities to give effect to the act and stop the slaughtering.

The court said it is the statutory obligation of the commissioner of police and the municipal corporation to ensure that the bill is implemented. The slaughtering of bulls and bullocks is a cognizable offence and the commissioners must stop the slaughtering at the Deonar abattoir and take action against the offenders.