Status report sought on illegal slaughterhouses

The High Court on Wednesday directed the State police to submit a status report on steps taken to identify illegal slaughterhouses and close them as per the assurance given to the court earlier.

Justice Aravind Kumar issued the direction on noticing that the authorities had not produced any material on the action initiated.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Kavitha Jain and another of Gau Gyan Foundation, complaining that the Shivajinagar police had failed to adhere to directions of both the magistrate’s court as well as the High Court to take action on their complaint about illegally keeping cattle for slaughter. The petitioners had also submitted a list of illegal slaughterhouses in Bengaluru city and other districts. The court also orally observed that the police

prima facie committed contempt of court by not adhering to the court’s September 1, 2017 direction in which it directed the police to shift cattle kept illegally in Shivajinagar with the help of members of NGO Gau Gyan Foundation and provide protection to two court commissioners, who were appointed to oversee the process of shifting cattle.