Gujarat HC asks Govt. to respond to PIL that objects to poultry killing in shops

Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that objects to the slaughter of poultry birds at meat or chicken shops, yesterday asked the state government to submit a reply in the matter.

The PIL demands that the Slaughtering of Poultry shall happen only in slaughterhouses and not in shops. The Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri accepted the plea and sought a reply from authorities.

Advocate Nisarg S Shah filed the petition for two NGOs: Animal Welfare Foundation and Ahimsa Maha Sangh.
He argued that slaughtering chicken in meat shops is illegal, and should be prohibited. The lawyer cited the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which states that any living creature other than human beings constitutes an animal, so poultry birds must be slaughtered in abattoirs rather than in chicken and meat shops.

The bench after hearing the argument said that this logic can be extended to fish too. “Do you mean that fish are to be taken to slaughterhouses too? Isn’t it far-fetched to say that chicken should not be slaughtered in a mutton shop? ” Chief Justice asked.

Additionally, the PIL seeks disciplinary action against food safety and standards officers, civic officials, and slaughterhouse committee members if they fail to perform their duties. DeshGujarat