Prevent illegal slaughter of cows, other animals Telangana HC orders police

Hyderabad: In view of Bakri Eid celebrations on June 29, the Telangana High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Tukaramji, on Wednesday, directed the director general of police, Telangana to ensure that law and order is maintained across Hyderabad the rest of the state. The Chief Justice Bench directed the chief secretary, Telangana and the DGP to ensure that the provisions of the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Prevention Act, 1977 are strictly followed, including Sections 5 and 7, regarding cow slaughter and other animal slaughter in the city and the state.

The Chief Justice while passing the interim order said, “It is for the community elders to celebrate the festival in true spirit addressing people from all faiths and communities.” The Division Bench was adjudicating a suo motu PIL filed by K Shiva Kumar, Yuga Tulasi Foundation, which aims to save cows from getting slaughtered in open places in Hyderabad city and the state on Bakri Eid festival. The PIL sought the prevention of such illegal slaughter.

The Division Bench issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretaries, Animal Husbandry, Home Department, DGP, commissioner GHMC, commissioner of police, Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda and the director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Telangana, directing them to respond by August 2.

Delay in filing PIL

CJ Ujjal Bhuyan expressed serious concerns in adjudicating the PIL because it was filed, via a letter addressed to the chief justice on June 26, two days before the Bakri Eid festival. He questioned the petitioners on the delay in submitting the petition so late “when they knew when Bakri Eid will be celebrated as per the calendar.”

“You people address letters to the High Court in the 11th hour. You could have approached the court in advance so that we could have directed the officials concerned to take necessary measures sooner. Nonetheless, as the issue raised in the letter has serious ramifications and has the potential to impair inter-community relationships, this court has taken up the matter notwithstanding the apparent lacunae,” the chief justice said.

BS Prasad, advocate general (AG), Telangana, submitted to the court a letter from the director, Veterinary Animal Husbandry Board. The director is also the member convenor of the TS Animal Welfare Board. The district collector of each respective district is the chairman of the board in the district and shall ensure there is no illegal killing of animals in open places, and that the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Prevention Act, 1977 is implemented.

Further, the AG told the court that all measures have been taken to curtail the illegal slaughter of animals in open places as the police department has established special check posts to thwart illegal cattle transport at important places, and in coordination with the officials of veterinary and animal husbandry department, police have identified check posts which have been manned round the clock since June 16, under the supervision of the Addl DCP, Law and Order, who is the in charge of Hyderabad city.

CJ Ujjal Bhuyan, in the interim order, also referred to Article 48 of the Constitution of India, which directs the states to ensure that different breeds of animals (cows, milch, calves etc.) are prevented from illegal slaughter. Section 8 of the Act says that no animal is slaughtered, without there being a certificate from the veterinary doctor and in any other place, other than the place identified by the concerned authorised officer. The animal shall be slaughtered only at the place identified by the concerned official.

The case was adjourned to August 2.