The Karnataka High Court on Friday ordered issue of notice to the State government, the Bengaluru police and others on a petition seeking direction to authorities to take action, as per law, to prevent illegal transportation, sale and slaughter of cattle in the city.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the order on the PIL petition filed by Gau Gyan Foundation, a New Delhi-based NGO that deals with conservation of cattle.
Claiming that Bengaluru is a major centre for illegal transportation, sale and slaughter of cattle, the petitioner pointed out that this was because of the failure of the authorities to enforce the provisions of the law related to prevention of cow slaughter, cattle preservation and slaughter houses.
Pointing out that there is complete prohibition of slaughter of cow, calf or she-buffalo — except animals that are certified by the designated officer to be over the age of 12 or to have become permanently incapacitated for breeding, draught or giving milk — the petitioner said that calves and cows much below the age of 12 are being slaughtered regularly.
Though law stipulates that the animals can be slaughtered only in slaughter houses, animals, including cattle, are slaughtered in houses, shops, streets and other public places in the city, particularly during Bakrid. Claiming that more than one lakh heads of cattle are being illegally transported into Bengaluru and sold in complete violation of the laws during Bakrid, the petitioner also alleged that cattle are being slaughtered in an extremely unhygienic manner on the eve of the festival and innards are dumped in street corners and garbage dumps, the petitioner alleged.
