PIL Against Illegal Poultry Slaughter: Gujarat High Court To Hear Surat Meat Shop Owners Alleging Closure Despite Valid Licenses

The PIL seeks proper implementation of slaughter house wastage disposal and management as contemplated under various environmental laws and the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. It also seeks a direction upon the State to take steps for closure of illegal slaughter houses, not having proper licenses under various laws including Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011 and to close down slaughter houses and meat shops/ outlet/ retailers/hotels working in violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001 and Food Safety and Standards Act and rules made therein.

It is in this light that the High Court had earlier ordered the Food and Drug Commissionerate to initiate prosecution against shops or premises where unstamped meat is sold or slaughtering of animals is carried out without license. The bench had also directed all Member Secretaries of respective Districts Legal Services Authority to inspect slaughter houses/ shops.

As per the statistics furnished in respect of Surat Municipal Corporation in January this year, DSLSA visited 769 shops and 297 shops were identified as not having license. Of this, 63 shops or slaughter houses were sealed.

As of February 2, 578 meat shops/slaughter houses were sealed. "It is rather surprising that overnight 516 shops having been sealed or closed. Hence, we deem it proper to direct the jurisdictional DLSA, namely, the Member Secretary of District Legal Services Authority, Surat with the assistance of PLA’s and PLV’s to inspect the so called 578 shops which have been sealed and file a report in a sealed cover as to the status of these shops,” the Court had ordered.

It is in this background that the applicants, claiming to have licensed businesses of poultry chicken meat shops for more than 35 years, had approached the Court. They alleged that SMC sealed their shops despite their having valid licences and during the sealing process, no valid show cause notice was issued; huge loss is caused to the entire poultry industry.

The applicants further submitted that the action of respondent authorities has infringed citizens' right to consume food of choice, under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The court directed that all the proposed applicants be impleaded as party respondents.

Coram: Chief Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt

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