Animal slaughter: Monitoring panels formed in districts

The State government has issued an order forming district committees to monitor illegal transport and slaughter of animals. Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi recommended forming these committees to control illegal activities, especially during festivals.

Based on the Upalokayukta’s report, Additional Chief Secretary of Internal Administrative Department called a meeting on August 11. The meeting resolved to instruct Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department to issue an order for forming committees in districts, and also in Bengaluru City. The government order was issued on August 14.

Each committee will be headed by the respective DC and have as members the SP, the deputy director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, the RTO, the Zilla Panchayat CEO, the commissioner of municipal corporation/council, among others. Its task would be to prevent slaughter of cow, calf, camel and other prohibited animals during festivals. Justice Adi said: “The committee should strictly enforce the law. But it should ensure healthy meat is supplied and proper slaughter of permitted animals, without harming people’s religious sentiment.”