BENGALURU: The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)-Bengaluru Urban district, a statutory body under the state government, had on April 1, instructed the BBMP to direct all slaughterhouses and chicken shops to ensure animals are mandatorily “stunned” before they are slaughtered for meat.
But late on Sunday (April 3) BBMP officials confirmed that the circular has been kept in abeyance based on an oral order from the animal husbandry minister. The circular dated April 1 had reiterated existing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001 but had become controversial as it came close on the heels of a campaign by pro-Hindutva groups to boycott halal meat — a slaughtering practice followed by Muslims.
In the circular, SPCA had cited complaints from the public that slaughterhouses are not following rules under the law and reiterated implementation of stunning before slaughter — a process of rendering animals unconscious prior to slaughtering them for food. The circular had also asked the civic agency to inspect stunning facilities while issuing licences for slaughterhouses and chicken shops “and report to SPCA, Bengaluru Urban, about action taken”.
On seeking clarification on the circular, a senior animal husbandry department official told TOI that an unofficial gag order has been issued on the topic. The circular, signed by the deputy commissioner of animal husbandry and veterinary services department, Bengaluru Urban, had caused confusion since it was first thought the government had issued the order.
But the department denied issuing any such circular. “Only the jurisdictional SPCA is authorised to issue such directions (there’s an SPCA for each district) our department has nothing to do with this,” an official from the animal husbandry department said. It was eventually found that the deputy director had signed the circular only in his capacity as member-secretary, SPCABengaluru Urban. Prabhu Chauhan, minister of animal husbandry, did not respond to multiple calls made by TOI.
Earlier, a BBMP official, said: “The Palike will ensure rules for slaughter are followed. BBMP has a team of inspectors and assistant directors who are in charge of this and they will ensure rules are adhered to. However, so far, we have not received any complaints about such rules being violated.”
