Slaughtering Animals By Murdering Constitution

By Mr. Laxmi Naraian Modi

1.1 While going through Annual Report for 1994-95 if Deptt. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying of Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. Of India. I found in the list of functions. "cattle slaughter". This created inquisitiveness as to how this could be a function of the department, when Husbandry means "Farming; economy; careful management."

1.2 On further enquiry, I learnt that Allocation of Business (AoB) is done by Cabinet Secretarial manned by highly qualifies personnel and headed by senior most bureaucrat designated as Cabinet Secretary. A copy of AoB duly corrected up to September 4, 1995 was obtained.

2.1 The most glaring murder of Constitution is insertion of words under item (12b) in AoB "Cattle utilisation and slaughter." These words are not found in List I, II or III of schedule Seven of Constitution of India; while words under 12 (a) pounds and cattle trespass are to an extent according to List II, but in AoB the words "Prevention of" before cattle trespass are missing.

2.2 If this group of people exceed the provisions of constitution for slaughtering of animals, whose protection and development is desired in the constitution vide article 48 & 51A (g), it is nothing but willful murdering of Indian Constitution.

3.1 AoB mentioned "As regards legislation only" for items under part II but these have been omitted by Deptt. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying in Part II of their functions. Legislation is to deal with : 

* Provision of Veterinary Practice 
* Prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting animals 
* Pattern of financial assistance to various states undertaking Dairy Development Schemes either through their own agencies or through the Co-operative Unions
* Operation Flood Programme and all matters pertaining thereto
* Technology Mission on Dairy Development

3.2 Items 9 and 10 i.e. Court of wards and Insurance (cattle) are not mentioned in list II of schedule VII, though included in AoB

3.3 In part III item 9 of DAH &D, following words are in conformity with Schedule Seven list II, "Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training and practice."

3.4 The above complies with article 48 of the constitution reading as under "The State shall endeavor to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle."

3.5 Ninth edition of Constitution of India by V. N. Shukla, following has been quoted from Supreme Court Judgment in the matter of M. H. Quereshi Vs. State of Bihar, AIR 1958. "The directive for taking steps for preventing the slaughter of animals is quite explicit and positive and contemplates a ban on the several categories of animals specified therein, namely cows and calves and other cattle which answer the description of milch or draught cattle." "The protection recommended by this part of the directive is confined only to cows and calves and to those animals which are presently or potentially capable of yielding milk or of doing work as draught cattle........................."

4.1 The important words to note are "those animals which are presently or potentially capable of yielding milk or doing work as draught cattle.

4.2 So far as goat is concerned even Gandhiji used to take only Goat Milk. The contribution of goat for milk in national economy is only next to cows and buffaloes. Their respective share for year 1991-92 is 41.9, 53.8 and 4.3%. Goats are also used as pack animals to some extent.

4.3 So far sheeps are concerned they also yield milk on regular basis and most of shepherd take sheep milk.

4.4 Buffaloes are regularly used for milk and also as fraught animal.

4.5 Camels are unique draught animal for desert areas.

4.6 Horses, Donkeys, Mules are well known Draught Animals

4.7 Likewise, YAK are extensively used for Milk and Draught purposes As such all these animals should be covered and require to be protected.

4.8 By such interpolation, deletion, additions as explained in para 3 specially, which are beyond Schedule Seven list I, II and III are nothing but deliberate attempt to perpetuate mass scale killing of innocent animals by lacs every day, apparent in phenomenal increase in production of meat, revealed in "Report of the Technical Committee of Direction for Improvement of Animal Husbandry &Dairying Statistics" by Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Agriculture.
 

4.9 In para IV of AoB conveniently, no mention has been made as to under which list of schedule Seven they fall.

5.1 What an irony, 10 slaughter houses are planned at following places.

Assistance is proposed to be given to government and other autonomous and semi-autonomous organisations for the establishment of modern abattoirs-cum-carcass
utilisation plants near following ten airfields used by the Indian Air force.

 1. Hindon    2. Gwalior    3. Ambala     4. Sirsa    5.  Bareilly
 6. Jodhpur   7. Tejpur      8. Adampur   9. Pune   10. Dundig

The reasons for establishing these slaughter houses are given as under :-

* to sanitize the surroundings of airfields and prevent environmental pollution
* To eliminate clandestine/indiscriminate slaughter of animals in the vicinity of defense airfields
* To intoduce effective collection, transportation and processing of proteinous waste material which would otherwise attract vultures, kites, birds and vermic
* To create public awareness for safety of aircrafts
* To provide wholesome and hygienic meat to the public; and
* To effectively utilise fallen animals slaughter houses waste, hatchery waste, poultry waste, fish market waste bones etc. to wealth from waste

5.2 On closer reading of each objective, it seems to be a device to cover up sinister design of opening slaughter houses for public

5.2.1 It is evident that such agencies can not be allowed entry within the precincts of airfields for security. Outside the boundary of air-fields, slaughter house or carcass utilisation centre have to be at least 10 km. away as per Aircraft Act 1934, Section 5 (qq) quoted below

"The prohibition of slaughtering and flaying of animals and of depositing rubbish, filth and other polluted and obnoxious matter within a readium of ten km from aerodrome reference point."

5.2.2 So far as precincts of airfields are concerned, there is no problem as no slaughtering or flaying is done. The problem of illegal slaughtering is outside the airfields and air force authorities are unable done. The problem of illegal slaughtering is outside the airfields and air force authorities are unable to take action. They have to depend on police, who rarely interfere in such matters.

5.2.3 Simply by having a new slaughter house adjacent to airfields illegal / clandestine slaughter can not be checked. Moreover, setting up of slaughter house under Aircraft Act 1934 is prohibited within a radius of 10km. As such, if any slaughter house is set up, it would infringe this Act.

5.2.4 Effective collection of porteintous waste material has not been defined. If small pieces of meat or bones are lying over scattered areas, how they would be collected, is beyond reasoning.

5.2.5 By having a slaughter house, in what way public awareness would be created is self defeating. Nothing has been done all these years. Hence it is only mentioned to give some kind of respectability to proposal. This has absolutely no link with setting up new slaughter house.

5.2.6 The real intention is to promote more and more killing of animals for supply of meat to public not for defence personnel. There is no mention about defence. In fact, by having a slaughter house in the vicinity of air field, it would jeopardise security of airfields as general public would have to be allowed entry.

5.2.7 Moreover, large number of animals would have to be brought on foot or trucks and there are great chances of undesirable persons finding easy access to airfields.

5.2.8 The last one is also full of fallacies. No fallen animals are available within the precincts of airfields. Beyond their own area, disposal of fallen (dead) animals contract is given by Municipal Authorities. As such no fallen animals would be available, unless successful bidding can be done. Even Kahadi Village Industries Commission had to close their Carcass Utilisation Centre in Delhi, since Municipal authorities would not give rights to KVIC but through tenders. In fact, this is a major hurdle for setting up carcass centres.

Moreover, where live animals are slaughtered, nowhere fallen animals are brought, in any of the 3600 authorised slaughter houses in the country. In Delhi, due to exhaustion and exhalation,many animals die during transportation by trucks. Not one such dead animal is allowed inside the slaughter house. As such thid is also deceptive.

5.2.9 In none of the slaughter houses even in Metropolitan cities slaughter house waste is utilised in slaughter house. No such provision exists. This again does not seen feasible.

5.2.10 No hatchery/ poultry farms are in vicinity of ten airfields mentioned. Moreover, no slaughter house can take such waste. Likewise, there is no fish market near the designated airports. Fish waste is available near sea coast where large scale fishing is done. As such this is also not possible.

Bones are also not available in slaughter houses. Since slaughtered carcass is sold with bones. Only in Meat processing factories, bones would be available. This is again not a feasible proposition.

5.2.11 It is also understood Rs. 40 crores have been sanctioned to Govt. of Kerala for modernishing slaughter houses, where cattle (cow, bullocks) are slaughtered openly, which is against article 48.

5.3 Not being content another circular No : 18-60/92-Meat dated August 20,1993 advising States/UTs for slaughter houses was issued. Important extracts are quoted below :

* Administrative approval for implementation of the above said scheme during 1993-94 (Rs.350laks for slaughter house is also accorded)
*For the slaughter house modernisation/improvement programme 50% of the project capital cost will be provided by Department of AH & F and balance 50% to be arranged by State Government/Meat Corporation/Municipal/ Gram Panchayats jointly or exclusively.
* The State Government may also associate with the private meat trader (s) to provide for part contribution of allowing facilities for slaughtering of the animals. The central contribution will be restricted to the extent as per details of cost given in Annexture A or actual cost or whichever is less.

* The already committed abattoirs at
Bangalore (Karnataka)            Wanihama (J&K)            Majitar (Sikkim)
Hyderabad, (A.P.)                   Andul                            Mourigram (WB)

will be now considered for providing grants-in-aid on merits.

"The proposals for slaughter houses of higher capacity then the ones prescribed in Annexture 'A' will be considered on merits and sharing of expenditure by Centre and State as per approved norms."

6.0 More details of financial sanctions and other assistance for slaughter houses with connivance of Deptt. of AH&D are not available, but in view of above, it is clear that financing institutions, municipal bodies, land allotment/acquition authorities, pollution control boards are all acting in gross violation of constitutional provisions.

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Source : Article From 'Sixth World Jain Conference' ( 1995) Souvenir

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