A unique identification number for animals has been suggested by an expert panel to evolve a mechanism to stop trafficking of cattle across the Indo-Bangla border, the Centre informed the Supreme Court.

The committee, set up in pursuance of the apex court order, has recommended having tamper-proof identification of cattle by using polyurethane tags and a state-level database may be uploaded at a website which may be linked with a national online database.

The recommendations were placed before a bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud which listed the petition filed by Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh for Tuesday for passing directions by considering these recommendations.

The issue before the apex court also included concern over smuggling of cattle to Nepal for being sacrificed at the Gadhimai festival, held once in five years, and a petition relating to it filed before the festival in 2014.

The instant petition concerning trafficking of cattle to Bangladesh was filed by
Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh.

 A similar plea was filed by animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, seeking directions to the Centre and states like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which share the border with
Nepal.