BJP govt limits cow slaughters to certified cases in West Bengal

The newly elected BJP government on Wednesday significantly tightened bovine slaughter rules across West Bengal, requiring people to get official certificates before committing the act.

The certificate will be given only for permanently disabled and sick cows or buffaloes, and upon receiving it the eager party can slaughter the animal only at designate government facilities and not in the public.

The animal definition does not include any kind of goats which the Hindu nationalist government and its supporters prefer, and the choice of bovines is aimed at putting the large Muslim minority into a difficult spot while upholding Hindu religious sentiments.

The notice, issued by the state Home and Hill Affairs Department on Wednesday, said the directions were being issued in compliance with an August 16, 2018, order of the Calcutta High Court. “This is to inform all concerned that the following provisions/instructions are to be followed strictly,” the notice, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, read.

The notice stated that no animal could be slaughtered without certification that it was fit for slaughter.

“No person shall slaughter any animal, thereby meaning (Bulls, Bullocks, Cows, Calves, Male and Female Buffaloes, Buffalo Calves and Castrated Buffaloes), unless he has obtained in respect thereof a certificate that the animal is fit for slaughter,” said the notice.

It also clarified who is authorised to issue such certificates.

“The Chairman of a Municipality or the Sabhapati of a Panchayat Samiti and a Government Veterinary Surgeon may issue a joint certificate regarding fitness of an animal for slaughter, if they are both of the opinion to be recorded in writing that the animal is over 14 years of age for work or breeding or the animal has become permanently incapacitated due to age, injury, deformity or any incurable disease”.

The notice added: “In case of refusal to issue such a certificate, the aggrieved person may prefer an appeal to the State Government within 15 days of communication of such refusal”.

The government further said slaughter could only take place at designated facilities and “shall be strictly prohibited in any open public place”

“An animal, in respect of which a certificate has been issued, shall be slaughtered only in a Municipal Slaughter House or any other Slaughter House identified by the local administration,” the notice added.

Warning of legal consequences, the notice stated that violations of the provisions could attract imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to 1,000 rupees, or both, and that all offences under the 1950 Act are cognisable.