The Kerala High Court on Friday directed all local bodies in State to close all unlicensed meat-vending stalls under their area.
Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque made it clear that no slaughtering should be allowed anywhere in areas within the respective local bodies unless butcher’s licence or slaughterhouse licence had been issued.
The court issued the directives while disposing of a batch of writ petitions filed by various meat vending merchants in various panchayats and municipalities challenging the sealing of their stalls.
Asked to shut down sans notice
They complained that they were asked to shut down the stalls without being issued any proper notice.
The judge asked the police to provide necessary assistance to implement the High Court directive if any local self-government institutions approached them for help.