On Monday, the Gujarat High Court criticized the state government for its lack of action against illegal meat shops. The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri, expressed their disapproval of the government’s “soft peddling” attitude and questioned why the government was hesitant to take action against those breaking the law. The court made these remarks in the case of Dharmendrabhai Pravinbhai Fofani vs State of Gujarat.
“Why is the State hesitating to take action against those shops which do not have licence and are selling unstamped meat? In fact, you don’t take action against so many things. Even against helmetless persons. We see day-in-and-day-out no one wears a helmet. Is wearing a helmet not a rule? We will take suo motu cognizance on this issue too,” the Chief Justice said.
The court, referring to affidavits submitted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Urban Development Department of the state, pointed out that the documents did not provide adequate information, particularly regarding the number of shops against which authorities have taken legal action.
“This soft peddling attitude on the part of the State is not acceptable. If no reasonable steps, as is expected of a welfare State, is taken, the Secretary, UDD shall appear in person as the repeated affidavits filed would indicate that the State machinery is being pushed only at snail’s pace,” the judge further said.
The court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition calling for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which requires that animals be slaughtered only in licensed slaughterhouses and prohibits killing or slaughtering of animals outside of slaughterhouses, adjourned the hearing for three weeks with the expectation that the state will take action against non-compliant shops. The PIL petition claims that thousands of shops in Gujarat have been selling “unstamped” meat, which is meat not obtained from slaughterhouses but from animals killed in the shops themselves. The court noted from the report submitted that of the 4,323 shops surveyed by the District Legal Services Authority, 2,602 shops were operating without licenses and 3,621 shops were selling unstamped meat. The report also indicated that a total of 2,507 shops were in unhygienic conditions.
“They are selling the meat in open? And you (State) are doing nothing? Don’t you understand how serious issue this is? The meat is being sold at an unhygienic place. It is ultimately going to affect the citizens,” the court remarked.
According to an affidavit submitted by Hitesh Rawat, Joint Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, the court noted that out of the 2,602 shops operating without valid licenses, legal action has only been taken against 1,108 shops. The court ordered the authorities to take strong action against these shops and consider closing them down by the next hearing. Senior Advocate Asim Pandya represented the petitioner.
