Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Prohibit Exhibition Of Animal Carcasses By Meat Shops, Says It May Be Stored In Refrigerators Or Containers

The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to prohibit the display of animal carcasses at meat shops while giving the liberty to store them in refrigerators or containers or even in showcases within the premises but not open to public view from outside.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh passed these directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the matter filed by the Gau Gyan Foundation pertaining to the treatment of animals that are culled for human consumption and their transportation of animals across the State.

Observing that despite there being central enactments and local regulations and the petitioner demonstrating that most of the guidelines and norms were not being followed and local level committees were not functional, the bench hoped that 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.

On the issue of how animal carcasses were brazenly displayed on streetside shops, sometimes complete with beheaded heads of pigs in open view, the bench observed that the State has being repeatedly advised that such sight may not be appealing even to the most carnivorous of humans and some measures have been taken to ensure that such displays are restrained and altogether prohibited.

"However, on the ground, it does not appear 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," the bench remarked.

While taking on record the status report filed by the respondents on May 4 regarding several of the initiatives and measures taken by the State and the satisfaction of the petitioner on the same, the bench closed the PIL while concluding that 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.

Case Title: Gau Gyan Foundation Vs Union of India

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Meg) 18

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