Ethical Treatment Of Animals: Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Set Up District Animal Market Monitoring Committees

Emphasising the need for the ethical treatment of animals and for a more caring and hygienic attitude towards livestock, the Meghalaya High Court has asked the State to indicate the measures taken for setting up local bodies in terms of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.

The directions to this effect came from Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice B. Bhattacharjee while hearing a petition, filed in the public interest by an animal rights activist, who brought the attention of the court towards Rule 8 of the 2017 Rules, which addresses additional precautions in organizing animal markets in border areas. According to the rule, no animal market should be organized within twenty-five kilometres from any state border or within fifty kilometres from any international border.

The Respondent-State initially raised some objections, claiming that the petitioner should have approached the relevant district animal market monitoring committee or the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change before directly approaching the court. However, the court found that the petition presented undeniable facts, making any prior representation a mere formality.

Deliberating upon the matter, the bench urged the state to set an example for the country in ethical treatment of animals.

“Despite the State lagging behind in several other fields, considering the natural beauty that the State has been bestowed with, the State may consider being the model in the country as regards ethical treatment of animals is concerned. If it appeals to the State, appropriate measures ought to be taken, not only to comply with the said Rules of 2017 but also to generally inculcate a culture of better treatment of animals, even if such animals are bred to be culled”, the bench said.

Highlighting the primary objective of this exercise to ensure ethical treatment of animals culled for their meat and to avoid the wanton display of animal carcasses, the bench further emphasized the promotion of a more hygienic and compassionate approach towards animals, including those bred for eventual culling.

The matter will be revisited on August 17.

Case Title: Bakul Narzary Vs. State of Meghalaya & ors

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