The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : High Court bans slaughter of camels

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 29, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

High Court bans slaughter of camels

Special Correspondent

Directive to authorities to ensure its compliance

SECOND LIFE: Camels which were brought from Rajasthan to Sitharkottai in Ramanathapuram district.

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has banned the slaughter of camels in Tamil Nadu. Granting interim stay on camel slaughters, a Vacation Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and Justice K. Chandru also directed the authorities including Home Secretary, the Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police, the Animal Husbandry Director and others to ensure that no camel was slaughtered in the State. It also asked an implead petitioner to instruct his client, who had brought five camels from Andhra Pradesh, not to slaughter the animals.

The Bench passed the order on a petition filed by the Bharathiya Prani Mithra Sangh, which said it was "extremely concerned over the increase in the number of camels brought into Chennai and other districts for slaughter on the eve of Bakrid."

AR.L. Sundaresan, senior counsel for the Animal Welfare Board of India, informed the Bench that specific provisions of the Animals Transportation Rules and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules had been violated. While Rule 96 of the Animal Transportation Rules made certification by competent authorities mandatory for transporting animals into the State, other Rules stipulated that there should be a licensed slaughter house, veterinarians to test and certify animals before and after the killing and licensed employees to slaughter the animals, he said. On its part, the petitioner-organisation said a large number of camels were purchased at least two months in advance and were forced to walk a long distance before being slaughtered. "No veterinary care is provided to them before or after the purchase," it said and added that camels from western and central parts carried certain diseases that could spread to cattle in Tamil Nadu.

It said camels were slaughtered in a most gruesome manner and that it would take at least two hours for the camels to die.

The slaughtering is done by unlicensed butchers. Camel slaughter has been banned by the Kerala High Court also, it said.

Besides seeking a direction to the competent authorities not to permit entry of camels from other States, the petitioner-organisation sought a ban on slaughter of camels, and the exhibition or sale of camel meat.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu