Tripura High Court Bans Sale Of Meat Products In Public Places/Streets

The Tripura High Court last week directed the State Government to ban the sale of meat products in public places and/or streets and to consider providing locations where slaughter can be carried out till the slaughterhouse is made operational.

The Bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice S. G. Chattopadhyay issued several directions to the state government on a PIL moved by Advocate Ankan Tilak Paul seeking a ban on sale and slaughtering of animals in public/streets throughout Tripura including the capital city, and to stop persons selling and slaughtering without a valid license.

The Court has further issued the following directions:

• The Agartala Municipal Corporation should prepare a long-term plan for not only setting up the abattoir/slaughterhouse but also for ensuring the disposal of garbage in an appropriate scientific manner (which we are told is an additional feature of the slaughterhouse for which tender has been floated).
• All authorities including the local police authorities are hereby directed to render all necessary assistance to the AMC for enforcing and/or assisting in carrying out its duties.
• If more people apply for licenses the same shall be considered and disposed of at an early date so that people are not deprived of essential needs.
• Inspection must be carried out of all license premises and in particular, attention should be kept that hygienic conditions are being maintained within the license premises.
• AMC shall consider providing locations where slaughter can be carried out till the slaughterhouse is made operational and such locations be appraised to the licensee concerned.
• Appropriate bins be also provided to all licensee where they can collect all waste material for disposal through the AMC disposal system.
• AMC is also directed to seek the assistance of the Veterinary Department to post a few of their officials who shall be given the authority to certify the quality of meat or meat products that are being made available for public sale.

The Court has asked the AMC and the Tripura State Government to implement the directions within 6 months. Apart from the above, the AMC has also been asked to consider the need for additional resources and/or location for setting up of additional sewage treatment plants to meet the needs of the entire expanding city.

Also, the Court has directed the AMC along with the Health officials to visit all the hospitals and/or nursing homes to find out the method of disposal of polluting materials generated from the hospitals.

The AMC has also been directed to bring to the notice of the Forest Department, particularly Chief Wildlife Warden, if they come across any sale of banned endangered species of animals, and in that event, the Court added, the Forest Department shall take all necessary steps to ensure that such sale does not take place and necessary steps in accordance with law shall be initiated by them.

Lastly, the Court called for an affidavit to be filed before the Court regarding compliance within 6 months' time, and on such filing of such affidavit, the matter may be placed before the appropriate Bench for consideration.

Case title - Ankan Tilak Paul (Petitioner-in-person) v. The State of Tripura and others

Case citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Tri) 4

Click Here To Read/Download Order