Otherwise, the State should ensure the ethical treatment of animals across the board, even those which are culled for human consumption and those which are used as farm animals, including the mode and manner of transportation thereof.”
The Meghalaya High Court made the above observation while closing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Gau Gyan Foundation pertaining to the treatment of animals that are culled for human consumption and the transportation of animals across the State.
The State has filed a status report and the petitioner, upon going through such status report filed pursuant to order dated May 4, 2023, expresses satisfaction regarding several of the initiatives and measures taken by the State.
In particular, the petitioner expresses gratitude for the State having adopted several of the suggestions made in the detailed reports filed by the petitioner.
Despite there being Central enactments and local regulations pursuant to the Central enactments, the petitioner had demonstrated that most of the guidelines and norms were not being followed and local level committees were not functional.
“Hopefully, such lapses have been taken care of and the State will ensure a more ethical treatment of animals, even if they are culled for human consumption”, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh said.
The one aspect that remains is how animal carcasses are brazenly displayed on streetside shops, sometimes complete with beheaded heads of pigs in open view. Upon the State being repeatedly advised that such sight may not be appealing even to the most carnivorous of humans, some measures have been taken to ensure that such displays are restrained and altogether prohibited , held by the High Court.
However, on the ground, it does not appear to the High Court that there has been any effect of any guidelines or instructions issued by the State in such regard. Streetside shops selling meat display animal carcasses with impunity. Apart from the hideous sight, there is also an element of hygiene involved since the meat displayed is open to the grime and dust of the street and may turn quite toxic even before it is sold.
The State said that detailed measures have been taken in such regard in June, 2022 and repeated instructions have followed.
The State would do well to set an example and completely prohibit the display of animal carcasses in meat shops, though they may be stored in refrigerators or containers or even in showcases within the premises and not open to public view from outside , the Court directed.